Agbonlahor issues Jude Bellingham ultimatum to Liverpool after latest – ‘it means nothing’
Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed Liverpool will fail in their pursuit of Jude Bellingham if they don’t qualify for the Champions League.
The former Aston Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the influence of Steven Gerrard or current Reds players “means nothing” with other attractive options like Man City and Real Madrid on the table.
Sources told this site on Monday (23 January) that Liverpool target Bellingham, 19, has no intention of signing a new Borussia Dortmund contract.
Interested clubs are likely to have to spend £120million-plus to sign the England international this summer, more than four times what Dortmund paid in 2020 when he was 16.
The midfielder’s current contract runs until June 2025.
Liverpool currently sit ninth in the Premier League – some 10 points adrift of a top-four berth.
Agbonlahor told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I don’t think they can get him without Champions League.
“If they are going to get him, they have to finish in the top four.
“No player of his quality will want to miss out on a year playing at the highest level.
“Even if they do get Champions League football, I still think there will be big competition.
“Man City will be looking, Real Madrid are an option – along with every club in the world.
“For me, it will come down to him specifically wanting to play for Liverpool.
“The influence of Steven Gerrard, or any of the current players – that means nothing.”
In other news, pundit baffled by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool transfer reveal – “I don’t undertand what the plan is”.