Manchester United ‘NEED’ to sign ‘superstar’ Jude Bellingham to compete with the Premier League elite, claims Steve McManaman… as Liverpool ‘are in the hot-seat to buy the England youngster’
Steve McManaman has claimed that Manchester United ‘need’ to sign teenage wonderkid Jude Bellingham to be a force in the Premier League again.
Bellingham has had a meteoric rise since joining Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham City in July 2020 and making his debut as a 17-year-old.
Since then he has represented England at Euro 2020 this summer and at 18 is a Dortmund regular, racking up a host of top-tier admirers in an extremely short period of time.
Steve McManaman (right) claimed Manchester United ‘need’ to sign Jude Bellingham (left)
The 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund sensation is one of the biggest European transfer targets
Rumours continue to swirl about several elite clubs vying for Bellingham’s signature at the end of the season, and Liverpool legend McManaman believes he is sorely needed at Old Trafford.
He highlighted the gulf in quality between United’s midfield options and those of their closest rivals, and said Bellingham would be a first-team regular that would significantly improve the team.
‘He (Bellingham) has got all the attributes to be a superstar,’ McManaman told Horseracing.net.
‘When you look through the teams and the sides that could buy him – Manchester United would need that type of player as a central midfielder. Manchester City, with Rodri, Ilkay Gündogan, Bernardo Silva, not so much.’
A breakout year for Bellingham saw the youngster firmly establish himself in the England setup
‘Liverpool have got Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Fabinho. Of course it would be a great signing, he’s a great player, but whether Liverpool need him now is another thing.
‘Henderson is moving towards the end of his career. James Milner also. So Liverpool could always take another centre midfielder but it’s very congested in there.’
‘Georginio Wijnaldum left the club in the summer and people said they needed to replace him but they didn’t. But whether people move on and Jürgen brings Jude in is another thing.
‘City could accommodate him but they’ve got a plethora of great players in there and he mightn’t play.’
Despite McManaman’s belief that Liverpool have more than enough options in midfield, the Reds have emerged as the side leading the pack to sign Bellingham next year.
But the former Liverpool and Manchester City winger said given the age of United’s current midfielders, they should be muscling in on Bellingham’s signature.
‘I think United need a centre midfielder of that (Bellingham’s) ilk,’ McManaman said.
Liverpool are reportedly leading the pack over signing Bellingham from Dortmund next year
‘Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata are coming to the end of their careers and Paul Pogba may leave.
‘So if there’s one team that needs a player like Jude Bellingham, it’s Manchester United.’
Ironically while still at Birmingham, Bellingham received a tour of United’s Carrington training ground from former manager Sir Alex Ferguson but decided to join Dortmund instead.
