Stephen Kelly, a former defender in the Premier League, has advised Jurgen Klopp that Jude Bellingham cannot assume Jordan Henderson’s position at Liverpool.
Bellingham has long been a preference of Klopp and Liverpool, who are eager to make a move this summer.
Real Madrid is just one of many other European teams with a keen interest in the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
Bellingham, in Kelly’s opinion, would be an “amazing” addition to Liverpool. But he would need to take on a different position from that of Henderson’s.
“When Henderson is fit, that’s great because you know he brings that energy,” Kelly told the BBC Football Daily podcast. “But because he’s getting injured all the time, that shows he cannot do it on a regular basis. So you need to replace him.
“That has been coming for a while. The rest of the players in there, Fabinho has not been the same. (Stefan) Bajcetic; excellent. But can you rely on an 18-year-old?
“Bellingham going there would be amazing for them,” Kelly adds. “But I don’t think you want him replacing Henderson because you don’t want him to do that job of covering the full-back.
“The middle of the park really sets out how Liverpool play with the full-backs getting high and (the midfielders) covering their positions.
“It’s so hard if you don’t have those players available. It’s a very difficult decision for Liverpool to be in.”
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This season, Henderson has started 14 league games, and he has also made nine substitute appearances.
Bellingham could undoubtedly succeed in Klopp’s style at Liverpool, but his position would be very different from Henderson’s.
The 19-year-old has 10 goals this season for Dortmund and may be more useful higher up the field than Henderson.
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