Liverpools Bellingham talks may have just confirmed two exits

England train ahead of France clash

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Liverpool have been marked as the ‘favourites’ to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund with talks ‘more advanced’ over a move to Merseyside than with Real Madrid, it has been claimed. And Liverpool’s progress as they look to sign the England midfielder, who is currently lighting up the World Cup in Qatar, may spell the end for two players.

The Reds have seven first-team players who stand to be out of contract in the summer, with the veteran James Milner – who turns 37 next month – one of the most likely to depart. And given Liverpool’s strong desire to recruit Bellingham, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are surely at the end of their Anfield careers too.

Liverpool’s midfield is currently bloated with nine players – Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and the on-loan Arthur Melo – on the books. Jurgen Klopp had said in pre-season he was satisfied with those options.

But it has become clear throughout the campaign that Liverpool need a fresh injection of quality and energy in the centre of the pitch, with Bellingham, Sofyan Amrabat and Enzo Fernandez among those linked. The former might cost over £100million, would arrive on a big-money deal and, although he is still only 19, would surely be a guaranteed starter.

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It therefore makes sense that other players would make way as a consequence, and the news that talks to land Bellingham are advancing may confirm that Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain are two of those on the way out. They have only managed a combined 32 Premier League starts since the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign.

Klopp and co. have not got enough value from their £120,000-a-week wages in that time. And given new four-year deals for each would take them to 32 (Keita) and 33 (Oxlade-Chamberlain) respectively, it appears far more likely they will be released as free agents instead this coming July.

That would free up roughly £13million per season on the club’s wage budget which would surely cover Bellingham’s weekly wages and more. Given the Reds have their fewest sellable assets in a while, saving cash where possible will be useful unless eager new cash-rich owners take control before the summer.

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While Liverpool will not recoup money for Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain, getting them off the wage bill given their underwhelming returns in recent seasons would make sense. After all, Bellingham would come in above both in the pecking order, as a surefire starter next to Fabinho and Thiago (when fit). Henderson and Elliott would also be above the pair.

Liverpool also have high hopes for scouse academy graduate Tyler Morton, who is starring on loan at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship. And he might be another player to replace Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain in the squad, with the pair surely certain to leave at the end of the season.

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