Pair of aces
LEGEND THOMMO HOPES KOP WILL BE IN MIX FOR HAALAND AND BELLINGHAM
LIVERPOOL legend Phil Thompson wants his former side to be in the running to sign both Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham next summer.
Thompson admits there will be plenty of competition for the Borussia Dortmund duo. However, he would like Liverpool to at least make an attempt to land both players.
Haaland is widely expected to leave Dortmund at the end of this season.
The Norway star has continued his sensational goalscoring form in Germany but has a release clause that will become active next summer.
The likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea are also interested in the striker.
Bellingham, meanwhile, continues to go from strength to strength both at club and international level despite still being just 18.
The former Birmingham City youngster is a constant in the Dortmund side – and Thompson is a huge fan.
Transfers
With the January transfer window approaching, Thompson reckons signing a midfielder could be the only piece of business Liverpool may do.
He said: “Things are going well, but we did have issues in centre-midfield with the boys. Maybe somebody in that area, because that’s where the energy levels come from with our team.”
However, the seven-time league winner with Liverpool would also like the club to save funds for a big signing or two in the summer.
And Haaland and Bellingham are the two he would want the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group to be strongly in the running for.
Thompson added: “I would like to think we would sort of save all our money and hopefully go for a big signing in the summer.
“I would think up front, you’d need more back up. I think that’s going to be a big area where we sort of need to make sure.
“And I’d like to think our hat is going to be in the ring for some of the big players that are going to be about.
“Haaland is one, even Bellingham, who I think is going to be a star. With these players, I just want us to be asking the question. We need to be in there, and hopefully we are saving our money for a big one.”
And Thompson (right) says Liverpool MUST tie down Mo Salah to a new contract in January.
Salah’s current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2023 and Thompson is very concerned.
He said: “I think a new contract is a must. That should be high on the agenda.
“It worries me. I’d just like to hope if Mo’s loving Liverpool like he says he does, I’m hoping that surely there’s a deal there for his agent to say ‘Yes, he’s more than happy with that’. “He’s going to be nearly 31 when
his contract’s up.
“If he’s thinking of moving then anybody who is going to be purchasing Mo,
paying big salaries, is not getting a 27-year-old, 28-year-old...
“So I think hopefully he sees his best years still being at Liverpool.
“Everybody should try to make it work, and concentrate on it.
“But I think it’s got to be done in January, if it doesn’t get done in
January, if it gets into the summer, then I for one will be panicking very, very much.”
Liverpool are flying high on all fronts this season under Jurgen Klopp.
Trophies
But Thompson is wary to put too much pressure on the Reds to win multiple trophies.
He added: “I’m certainly not going to go down the Manchester City route and everybody’s talking, ‘They can win the four, they can do this and do that’.
“As long as we get success in one or two trophies and push for everything – because that’s what Liverpool Football Club should be doing – I would be delighted.”