Liverpool have reportedly pulled out of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.
The 19-year-old has a contract with Dortmund until June 2025, but he is currently attracting interest from around Europe.
Liverpool supposedly placed Bellingham at the top of their wishlist as they prepare to overhaul their midfield this summer.
Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are all out of contract at the end of the season and could leave the club on free transfers.
Arthur Melo, who has struggled with injury this season, is also expected to depart and return to Juventus when his loan deal ends in the summer.
According to The Independent, Liverpool have taken the decision to end their pursuit of Bellingham and focus on other targets.
The report claims that rather than spending a significant amount on the Dortmund man, they will look to split their budget across several transfers.
Bellingham is expected to command a fee in excess of £100m, and with Liverpool set to miss out on Champions League football, their budget could be reduced.
The Reds may also need to sign at least two midfielders, and they are also wary of missing out on other targets if they get involved in a drawn-out transfer saga over Bellingham.
Liverpool's decision to end their pursuit will come as a boost to other interested clubs, including Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain.
There is also a growing belief that Bellingham could turn down a summer transfer to stay at Dortmund for at least one more season.
The England international has been a key figure in Edin Terzic's side this season, registering 10 goals and seven assists in 37 competitive appearances.
In total, Bellingham has scored 20 goals and provided 25 assists in 127 games for Dortmund since joining the club from Birmingham City in the summer of 2020.
With Liverpool out of the running for Bellingham's signature, they are now set to turn their targets to other targets, including Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher.
They have also been linked with Brighton & Hove Albion pair Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, Wolverhampton Wanderers's Matheus Nunes and Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch. body check tags ::
