🔴EOTK Insider Opinion: How Elliott, Jones & Ramsay could have huge say in potential Bellingham transfer to Liverpool

Liverpool have reportedly finished their summer transfer business early on... though there is concern over what this means for a potential pursuit of Jude Bellingham

“Klopp is a clown if he doesn’t sign a CM this summer”

“Bellingham is under contract to 2025 and unlike Haaland doesn't have a release clause, and we are meant to believe FSG will push boat out for him next Summer when we have likely to replace Salah as well???”

These are but a couple expressions of outrage at Liverpool’s decision to end their pursuit of further signings this window after agreeing a fee for Aberdeen’s highly-rated young fullback, Calvin Ramsay.

Haste has been the name of the game for the Reds’ new sporting director, Julian Ward, with prior deals arranged with Fulham and Benfica for Fabio Carvalho and Darwin Núñez respectively.

[Darwin Núñez will wear the No.27 shirt previously occupied by cult hero, Divock Origi]

All appear, on the face of it, to be superb bits of business from the club and all not dragged out throughout the summer - a promising indicator of what we can expect from Michael Edwards’ protege from here on out.

Beyond agreeing a contract extension with Mohamed Salah, however, it is clear that the middle of the park remains something of a priority for the club at the next available opportunity.

Let’s take a look at the age of our current options:

• James Milner - 36 years old

• Jordan Henderson - 31 years old

• Thiago Alcantara - 31 years old

• Fabinho - 29 years old

• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 28 years old

• Naby Keita - 27 years old

• Curtis Jones - 21 years old

• Harvey Elliott - 19 years old

• Fabio Carvalho - 19 years old

Altogether, it means Liverpool’s midfield has an average age of 26.7.

Hardly tragic, by any stretch of the means, though it does highlight a trend the club needs to reverse by the time of the next summer window at the latest.

James Milner will have likely either departed the club or be transitioned into a coaching role.

Jordan Henderson attracted a great deal of criticism last term for some of his performances and the upcoming season could inspire some serious questions around the possibility of reducing his playing time should those concerns continue.

Should the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita not be handed contract extensions (a distinct unlikelihood for the former) the pair will leave on free transfers come next summer.

[Naby Keita enjoyed perhaps his best season in with Liverpool last term, registering seven goal contributions]

One name that has yet to be considered among the list displayed is that of our next signing, Aberdeen’s Calvin Ramsey, whom Jürgen Klopp is said to value as more than just a defensive option.

“Liverpool see him developing into a player who can operate in a number of positions on the right side, in defence and midfield, and were attracted to his passing range as well as an ability to create chances,” David Maddock wrote for the Mirror. “He will sign a five year contract, with Klopp looking to lower the age profile of his squad, as he joins 22 year old Nunez and 19 year old Carvalho in the first team pool.”

With Carvalho tipped to support the forward line initially next term, that leaves Harvey Elliott, the young Scot and Jones (to an extent) as the somewhat unknown quantities in the middle of the park who could have a massive say on our potential business next year.

The former Fulham prospect enjoyed a scintillating start to life in the first-XI last term, being thrust straight into the limelight by the German tactician - a move that paid dividends prior to the teenager suffering an unfortunate ankle injury in a visit to Elland Road.

Curtis Jones tends to divide opinion though is still thought of extremely highly in Merseyside and Ramsay arrives with a solid reputation from the Scottish top-flight.

With us losing potentially as many as three midfielders by the next summer window, it’s difficult to see Liverpool not bolstering the department in question, even should all three youngsters impress in the middle of the park.

Still, it might encourage the coaching staff to place a great deal more faith in our promising young starlets should injuries or ill fortune not derail their contributions in the 2022/23 campaign.

Will that mean Liverpool are prepared to overlook Jude Bellingham?

If Borussia Dortmund are open to the prospect of parting ways with another star talent next year and we have the funds required to snap up the England international, a player Jürgen Klopp is said to admire, one would imagine that we’d be right in the mix for his signature.

It all very much depends on the extent to which the German believes the potential addition might compromise the development (and promise shown) of our exciting young options in the midfield department.

Liverpool are known for seeking solutions within the squad where possible first but a generational talent like Bellingham only comes around so often.

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