'Really excited' - Steven Gerrard gives seal of approval to Liverpool over future 'superstar'

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has tipped Jude Bellingham to be a 'superstar' amid transfer links to the Reds.

Speculation over Bellingham's future has ramped up over recent months, with Man Utd, Liverpool, Man City and Real Madrid amongst those credited with an interest.

But the Borussia Dortmund midfielder could also stay put, with TV pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft claiming in September that Bellingham may stay in Germany until 2024.

And Spanish outlet Marca reported this month that Dortmund want €150 million in order to sell one of their star assets, with that news potentially pricing out a number of interested clubs.

But Liverpool are amongst the teams firmly in the race, with Bellingham believed by many fans to be an ideal signing for the Reds midfield.

For now, he is in Qatar with England, preparing to play in his first World Cup.

The 19-year-old could star on the world stage. In their World Cup preview show for Sky Sports, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp all picked Bellingham to start in midfield for England's first group game against Iran on Monday - and Gareth Southgate may be thinking the same way.

Gerrard, who played at his last World Cup in 2014, has been full of praise for the young Englishman, who could potentially build his own legacy at Anfield.

Steven Gerrard on Jude Bellingham

The Liverpool legend, who is a brand ambassador for M88 Mansion at the 2022 World Cup, spoke about how much he is looking forward to watching some of the best players in the world square off.

He then turned his attention to England, and named the one player in particular that he is looking forward to watching.

Gerrard explained (quotes via Football.London): "I'm really excited to watch Jude Bellingham. I think, in the next 10 or 15 years, he's going to become an England superstar.

"There's a lot of Premier League players out at the World Cup, and they'll be hoping they're on the right side of a successful tournament."

The praise will certainly be well received by Bellingham, who named Gerrard as one of his idols growing up.

Speaking on an episode of England's 'Lions Den' at Euro 2020, the Dortmund midfielder said, when asked which player he would want to swap shirts with: "Stevie G, easily, to be fair.

"In fact, no it's not easy. I think him or [Wayne] Rooney are definitely close.

"But I think I would go Gerrard, though, just because the number eight, similar position to me. So yeah, I would probably go with him. I love Stevie G, to be fair."