This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
Birmingham head coach Pep Clotet has revealed how 16 year-old central midfielder Jude Bellingham has reacted to transfer links with huge clubs, claiming they are motivating the youngster.
What’s the story?
The Birmingham Mail have detailed Clotet’s thoughts on the highly-rated prospect, citing interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
The Reds were indeed said to be “front of the queue” in a report last month, and the Blues boss has now commented on the matter.
He said: “We will see what effect it has. I think he is going to be alright with it, it’s just motivation to keep going and keep growing.
“Actually I think that will encourage him to play well and know there are clubs who want him and he has a good level of attention.
“In a really good player that will motivate him to go more and play for us to a better level.
“He has dealt with everything really maturely, he has worked very hard in the whole pre-season, he waited for his chance and when his chance came he took it.”
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Ticking all the boxes
Clotet did go on to say that Bellingham “wants to play for Birmingham City”, but it will be nigh-on impossible for the club to resist interest from the top tiers of European football if they do not earn promotion any time soon.
With that in mind, Liverpool fans should actually be excited by his comments, as it shows the type of player and person that Bellingham is.
Not only is he Birmingham’s youngest ever first-team player, debuting just 38 days after his 16th birthday, and the player of the tournament at England’s U-17 Syrenka Cup success last month, he also clearly has the right attitude to be a Jurgen Klopp player.
You only need to look at the German’s treatment of Mamadou Sakho to see he values the right work ethic and mentality as much as on-the-pitch ability, and Bellingham appears to tick all the boxes.
Liverpool won’t have it easy if they decide to fully pursue the winger, with Bayern Munich reportedly interested, but having scored twice in eight senior appearances this season, aged just 16 and clearly with a good head on his shoulders, he seems an ideal target.
