Liverpool are reportedly now not pursuing a move for Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham this summer amid claims that they had launched a huge bid.
CaughtOffside claimed on Tuesday that the Reds had submitted an offer worth £84 million to the German giants, but that they had not yet received a response.
Hours later, The Times' Paul Joyce reported that Liverpool had cooled any interest in the 19-year-old midfielder, and were exploring other targets.
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The news comes as a major blow to Reds supporters, particularly with Jurgen Klopp's side in need of midfield reinforcements ahead of next season.
It had previously been hoped by many that Bellingham would move to Anfield, with his friendship with England team-mates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson cited as one factor.
Some got excited when Alexander-Arnold posted an image on social media showing himself and the Dortmund star on a stroll in Qatar.
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Furthermore, the pair were spotted at a Chris Brown concert in London last month,
Some were convinced that these 'hints' meant the defender was trying to convince Bellingham to move to Anfield.
That may well have been the case, with Liverpool's players surely knowing exactly what impact the midfielder could have on their side - although of course, transfers are certainly a lot more nuanced than that.
Alexander-Arnold 'hints' that Bellingham could join Liverpool
As well as the photo, Daily Mail reporter Dominic King also wrote about the pair's friendship when they arrived in Qatar for the World Cup.
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In November, he said: "Wherever one is, the other hasn't been far away since England arrived in Doha."
When asked about Bellingham's future in an interview with JOE, Alexander-Arnold said: "He's an incredible player, especially for his age.
"I think, deep down, only he knows his ceiling. I think there isn't really one. He can achieve what he wants to. He's got everything he needs to go and do that.
"He's one of those players that you just enjoy watching, enjoy seeing. The sky's the limit for him - he's an incredible player and an incredible person."
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When asked whether Bellingham would be a good player to have around in a squad, he replied: "I suppose so, yeah."
It is not the first time Alexander-Arnold has dropped 'hints' over a potential transfer. In 2019, amid reports linking Kylian Mbappe with a move to Liverpool, the defender performed an Mbappe-inspired celebration during a game.
He then tweeted: "Anything Mbappe can do..." alongside a laughing emoji - although later clarified in an interview with BBC Sport that he had planned to do the celebration for months. Klopp previously stated that he was a huge fan of Mbappe, but that no club in world football could afford to buy him.
Mbappe eventually did not end up joining Liverpool - and the same could happen with Bellingham this time around.
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But of course, with the summer transfer window not yet even open, there is still plenty of time for developments in the Bellingham saga - and he could still be playing alongside a player dubbed by some as 'agent Trent' next season.
Topics: Liverpool, Jude Bellingham
Ryan Smart