A blunt Jurgen Klopp has insisted that Liverpool should not waste time on transfers that they "theoretically" cannot pull off amid reports claiming that the Reds have dropped their interest in Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham.
With the Reds set to undergo a significant midfield overhaul ahead of the 2023-24 season, Bellingham was seen as one of their top engine room targets for a number of months.
Despite Liverpool's expected failure to qualify for the Champions League, Bellingham is still believed to possess a desire to move to Anfield, and his father has engaged in positive talks with the Reds.
However, with Dortmund prepared to demand as much as £130m to let the 19-year-old leave at the end of the season, Liverpool have ultimately been forced to drop their interest due to the cost of any potential deal.
A lack of Champions League football would restrict Liverpool financially in the summer window, and Fenway Sports Group have therefore decided to spend less on two or three midfield acquisitions rather than one marquee arrival.
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News of Liverpool withdrawing their interest in Bellingham after a protracted transfer saga did not go down well with the Anfield faithful, who have been calling for Klopp to add a new midfielder to the ranks for several months.
When quizzed on those reports in Friday's press conference, Klopp likened the signing of Bellingham for £130m to that of a child asking for a sports car for Christmas, and he implored fans to understand that the Reds must sometimes "step aside" from pursuing their transfer targets.
"I have nothing to say on that. It is not about Jude Bellingham, but I never understand why we talk about things we cannot have, theoretically," Klopp told reporters.
"We cannot have six players in a summer, everyone for £100m.That is clear. You have to realise what you can do and then work with it. That is your job.
"We are not children; when you ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they say, I don't know, a Ferrari, you would say that is too expensive and you cannot drive it. If this kid then was really unhappy because he didn't get a Ferrari, it would be a really sad life.
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"You look what you can do, and you work with that. We try everything to get what we need and what we want; but there are moments where we have to accept and step aside."
With Bellingham now seemingly off their radar, Liverpool have been linked with a host of alternative lynchpins for the summer window, including Chelsea pair Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher.
Both players are facing uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge, with Gallagher expected to be on the way out, but the Blues are said to be confident of tying Mount down to a new contract beyond 2024.
Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella, Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch, Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister and West Ham United's Declan Rice are also among the midfielders to have been mentioned as potential signings, but Arsenal are thought to be leading the race for the latter.
With Liverpool out of the picture, Manchester City and Real Madrid are considered the frontrunners to sign Bellingham, but Manchester United are also monitoring developments from afar.
