Jurgen Klopp told he ‘must’ sign second £70m star after Bellingham

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Liverpool have been urged to splash the cash on Declan Rice as well as Jude Bellingham as Jurgen Klopp looks to freshen up his midfield next summer. Rice’s West Ham United future is in doubt as he edges ever-closer to his contract expiry while European heavyweights circle.

According to the Telegraph, West Ham could be forced to sell the 23-year-old for £70million at the end of his season, with his current deal running out in 2024. And the report claims he’ll join his England team-mate, Bellingham, at the centre of a high-profile bidding war between the continent’s biggest clubs.

Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann believes Bellingham could be the key to the club’s problems amid the expectation he will soon be prized away from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth more than £100m. But Hamann has urged the Reds to complete a double whammy and field Rice behind the 19-year-old superstar next season.

He told Stake.com: “Jude Bellingham could be the key to Liverpool’s midfield troubles. I think that Liverpool’s Achilles heel was not having a player who gets us seven or eight from open play from midfield. In losing Mane, they lost a bit of firepower going forward, even though Nunez is coming into it now.

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“Bellingham is the type of candidate who they should be looking at, but they must try and lure Declan Rice to Anfield too. Rice is spoilt for choice if he were to move clubs, but he’d absolutely suit playing behind Bellingham at Liverpool.

“Liverpool have Fabinho, whose form has dropped off a bit in the last few months. I think it depends on how he does because I don’t think that you can play with both Declan Rice and Fabinho in the middle of the pack. I think one player of that calibre is enough, but Fabinhos’ form has been a concern.”

Despite Hamann’s desire, there are doubts over whether Liverpool will be able to conjure up the cash to recruit Bellingham, never mind another of the world’s top midfielders in the same transfer window. The club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group’s, plans to sell up also makes it a difficult prospect to envisage.

But with Pep Guardiola recently extending his Manchester City stay until 2025, Klopp will be desperate to upgrade his ranks to compete again. And there would be no bigger action of intent than beating Man City to the exciting duo.

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