‘I’m flying to Dortmund’ – Steven Gerrard asks Liverpool to seal Jude Bellingham’s transfer amid interest from Jurgen Klopp

STEVEN GERRARD has offered to “fly to Dortmund personally and take Jude Bellingham out to a nice dinner” to convince him to join Liverpool.

The 19-year-old England World Cup star is one of the most sought-after players in world football.

2

2

Liverpool and Real Madrid are believed to be leading the hunt for the midfielder, who is under contract until 2025.

And the ex-Birmingham City ace is also on the wanted lists of Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain – although Dortmund are adamant they want him to stay.

Earlier this week it was reported that Bellingham has negotiated a summer transfer with both Madrid and Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.

Now former Reds captain Gerrard, who was sacked by Aston Villa last month, is ready to help Klopp secure the signature of the one man he believes the Reds need.

Stevie G, who reports Liverpool v Chelsea as a pundit at Anfield today, told BT Sport: “All he has to do is send me his diary when he has a day off.

“I personally fly to Dortmund, invite him to dinner and we talk about it!

“On the back of the World Cup, what he’s doing in Dortmund. I’m a big fan of his anyway. The way he comes across, the way he talks about the game. Every time I see him, he impresses me.

“He’s the obvious one because I’m thinking that at the moment, now that [Jordan] Henderson adjusted his game and covers Trent [Alexander-Arnold] On the right, Thiago is more of a footballer, Fabinho stays, Liverpool are missing that running No8 who can come into the box, can get you a goal that has that power, that blast that can leave someone for dead.

FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS – THE BEST DEALS FOR NEW CUSTOMERS

“Bellingham ticks all of those boxes. He’s the obvious one but I think it’s important that we don’t become obsessed with a midfielder.

“It’s Liverpool Football Club. Everyone around the world knows that Liverpool will be looking for midfielders. There are many very good midfielders around the world.”

Despite Liverpool’s struggles in the top flight this season, Gerrard also insisted Bellingham was “smart” enough to know Anfield is still the ideal place to continue his development.

He said: “Liverpool is in the middle of the table but I’m sure Jude is smart enough to say, ‘Wait a minute, there’s a grandstand being built up here, it’s going to be a 60,000-seat stadium, they’ve got one of those die five best managers in the world, they’ve won the Premier League lately, they’ve been in the Champions League final lately, they’re playing very well here, they’ve got some fabulous players, they’re developing players.

“It ticks a lot of boxes but Liverpool in the league are in the middle of the table at the moment.”

Despite the lure of Bernabeu and Real Madrid, Gerrard also believes it is important for Bellingham to return to those shores rather than risk being ‘swallowed’ by a big foreign club.

He added: “I think it’s important that he stays in this country.

“He’s 19 years old. We are talking about Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

“I know he’s doing it in Dortmund now, but these clubs are at a higher level than Dortmund. You can let yourself be swallowed, there are many world stars. You can get choked if you take the step too soon.

“In my opinion, stay in England, stay in this country, develop. It grows, it can evolve. I think it’s very important for the boy now to stay in England until he’s reached his prime.