By David Lynch, Merseyside Correspondent

21st Mar, 2023 | 11:45am

Sources: Liverpool actively working on Jude Bellingham signing as new details emerge today

Liverpool remain in the hunt for Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham’s signature, sources have told Football Insider.

The 19-year-old, who has cemented his reputation as one of the premier young talents in world football during a three-year stint in the Bundesliga, is set to be the most coveted prize of this summer’s transfer window.

Liverpool have been joined by Spanish champions Real Madrid and Premier League rivals Manchester City in making him their number one target, while Manchester United and Chelsea are also said to be monitoring the situation.

But, with two years remaining on Bellingham‘s contract and no release clause agreed, Dortmund are believed to be determined to secure a club-record fee exceeding the €144m (£126m) received for Ousmane Dembele’s 2017 move to Barcelona.

That lofty expectation allied to the spending power of Liverpool’s competitors has led to suggestions that they are being squeezed out of the race for the teenager at this early stage.

However, sources close to the club have told Football Insider that Bellingham remains an active target ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s planned summer rebuild and the deal is still being worked on.

There has long been an acceptance at Anfield that Liverpool would be unlikely to come out on top of any bidding war with Real or City for Bellingham should one ensue.

Yet their pursuit of the Englishman has always been predicated on convincing him that a move to Merseyside would be the best fit for his future prospects.

That process has been under way since Bellingham was at Birmingham City’s academy, while the gaping vacancy in the Reds’ midfield and his notable closeness to Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also thought to be selling points.

And, should Klopp’s sales pitch land and the player inform Dortmund of his preference for a move to Merseyside, it would become more difficult to use other clubs’ interest to inflate the fee.

In other news, Liverpool plot leading to £250m payout as game-changing shake-up on the cards.