Former Liverpool and current Brighton midfielder Adam Lallana has openly likened Borussia Dortmund and England sensation Jude Bellingham to homegrown Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Lallana has been impressed with the 19-year old’s career so far.
The Champions League and Premier League winner with the Reds had the following to say in his column for The Times on Jude Bellingham. “He has probably not had much adversity in his career yet. That doesn’t mean he won all the time with Birmingham City and Dortmund, but every challenge he has had, he has met full-on and succeeded. There will be a time when that isn’t the case because that is the nature of football and that is how you learn. For now, though, his rise reminds me of how Trent Alexander-Arnold came through at Liverpool. That said, I have not seen a player this young able to exert the same influence on matches as Jude.
No matter what names you put to me, no one comes close. No one. That is one form of leadership, although I also liked the way he picked Harry Kane, the England captain, up off the turf and patted him on the back after one attack.”
Lallana spent years in the same dressing room as both Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. He can see there is a connection with his former teammates and Liverpool target Bellingham on the pitch.
Lallana continued in his column, “then there was the celebration with Jordan after they had combined for the breakthrough which screamed of the bromance they have developed. It felt like a special moment.
Watching with the lads and our manager Roberto De Zerbi, who I was telling should support England as Italy are not there, I got a shot of adrenaline. In fact, I couldn’t sleep when I went back to my room because I had adrenaline in my system. “Later on, I posted on Instagram the image of Jordan running towards Jude with the caption ‘Master and apprentice’ and that is the perfect summation in my opinion.’’
Henderson and Alexander-Arnold have made it no secret that they are very fond of the Birmingham City academy graduate. Their recent posts on social media after England’s victories over Wales and Senegal were full of praise for Bellingham.
Liverpool fans have reacted with excitement realising the two Liverpool stars share a bond with the Dortmund midfield maestro. Speculation around Bellingham joining Liverpool has lingered for as long as two years now.
The price tag of around £100million plus for Bellingham doesn’t seem to faze the Anfield faithful as they see Bellingham as their ideal fit amongst thee squad.
Reports this week seem to have only heightened the excitement about Bellingham potentially arriving to Merseyside. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed that Jude Bellingham’s father Mark is now leading any negotiations around his future.
Various reports in Germany suggested that Bellingham’s family want him to join Liverpool.
