Jamie Carragher has slammed Liverpool’s “timid” withdrawal from the race to sign Jude Bellingham, claiming the Reds have betrayed their fans’ trust by failing to pursue him.
With Bellingham expected to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season and Liverpool’s midfield in desperate need of a rebuild, Anfield has long been suggested as a potential destination for the England man.
However, reports this week said Liverpool were no longer targeting Bellingham, with Real Madrid and Manchester City reportedly the frontrunners for the £130million-rated midfielder.
While Jurgen Klopp was unwilling to discuss Bellingham directly at a press conference on Friday, he accepted Liverpool may have to “step aside and do different stuff” in the next transfer window.
The decision to focus on alternative targets has attracted criticism from former Reds defender Carragher, who says the club’s hierarchy must win back the confidence of disgruntled supporters.
“Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp built a level of trust with regard to transfers which was the envy of Europe,” Carragher wrote in The Telegraph on Friday.
“That trust has gone with news they will not be pursuing Jude Bellingham this summer.
“It must be won back in the next transfer window because Klopp, his recruitment team and owners Fenway Sports Group have been granted a free pass for the dire performances of the last eight months, especially away from home.”
With Liverpool highly unlikely to qualify for next season’s edition of the Champions League, Carragher feels their failure to compete for Bellingham’s signature demonstrates “weakness”.
“Everything pointed to waiting for Bellingham. The supporters were sold the dream that the next Steven Gerrard was Anfield-bound,” Carragher added.
“After a year working on a deal, it feels like a timid surrender to step aside and allow Manchester City and Real Madrid to fight it out.
“There are times when a club of Liverpool’s stature has to flex some muscle and remind their rivals they can and will be there to compete off and on the pitch.
“To walk away because there is now too much work needed across the whole squad smacks of weakness, negligence and poor planning.”