Jamie Carragher has launched an astonishing attack on Liverpool following the club’s decision to withdraw from the race to sign Jude Bellingham this summer.
The Reds appeared to have positioned themselves as the leading candidates to sign the Borussia Dortmund star, having tracked the player for two years and embarked on a major charm offensive.
Reports earlier this week, however, claimed that Liverpool were set to focus on alternative targets given the cost involved in signing Bellingham, coupled with their need to embark on an almost total overhaul of their midfield in the summer.
Jurgen Klopp, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, confirmed Liverpool lacked the resources to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid, but Carragher believes Liverpool’s Bellingham U-turn speaks to the confusion that has charactersied his former club’s recent transfer activity.
The former Reds defender argued that Liverpool’s need for midfield reinforcements has been evident for over a year and the Bellingham surrender should mean that fresh scrutiny is placed on the January signing of Cody Gakpo.
In his column for the Daily Telegraph, Carragher wrote: ‘Liverpool have spent over £200 million on strikers, and given Mohamed Salah a massive new contract, since they last bought a first-choice central midfielder.
‘Those deals were necessary as Roberto Firmino was declining, and good money was recouped for 30-year-old Sadio Mane.
‘Then Cody Gakpo signed for £40 million in January, even though the side was crying out for more midfield energy. Gakpo has made a promising start. I like him. But now it is even more baffling that another striker was prioritised.
‘Most supporters would have willingly accepted the Gakpo outlay being kept back to turn a £90 million Bellingham bid into a £130 million signing.
‘This is the first time I have openly questioned Liverpool’s transfer policy during the Klopp era.
‘I get that Liverpool cannot spend like Manchester City, and they are not and should never be like Chelsea, who seem to sign highly rated, mega-expensive players on a whim without any idea how or where they will fit into the team and manager’s vision.
‘But it is on the club to think long-term, recognising at least a year in advance where the team will need reinforcing, and there are moments when pushing the boat out to do what is necessary to lure a generational talent is the way to propel a side to the next level.
‘Liverpool did so with Van Dijk and Alisson, and a similar statement with Bellingham would have transformed expectations going into next season.’
MORE : Jurgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool decision to drop out of Jude Bellingham transfer race
MORE : Chelsea star Conor Gallagher would ‘bite your arm off’ to join Liverpool, claims Glen Johnson
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