Jordan Henderson has discussed Jude Bellingham’s future amid speculation linking the midfielder with a summer move to Liverpool.
Bellingham is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer and Europe’s top clubs are interested in a deal to sign the teenager, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid understood to be the front runners.
The 19-year-old enhanced his reputation with two impressive performances for England during the international break and Henderson has heaped praise on Bellingham, admitting he would be delighted if the in-demand star ends up joining him at Anfield.
“I just want him to be the best player he can be — of course, if it ended up being Liverpool that would be amazing,” Henderson said, as per the Times. “But it’s got to be right for him, and it’s going to be every club you can think of that will want him.
“He has to think about himself and make sure he makes the right decision for his career. But there’s going to be one lucky club that will end up getting him, whether that is now or in a year or two it will be a lucky club.”
Henderson hailed Bellingham’s dedication to improve and believes the midfielder ‘can be as good as he wants to be’. The teenager has already won 24 caps for England and Henderson believes Bellingham is getting better and better with each performance for the Three Lions.
“His potential is through the roof, really,” Henderson said. “He can be as good as he wants to be — but he’s got the right mentality, which is the most important thing.
“He is a really special player and I can’t believe his age and his mentality, how he applies himself to training and the games, everything. I’ve never seen it before, so I’m pretty confident that he’ll be a pretty good player for many years to come.
“Honestly, I can’t believe his age, how mature he plays, how mature he is off the pitch, in the gym, training, everything, recovery day after the game. He is just dedicated to football.
“He’s a special player, but I’ve said it before we just need to be careful not to apply too much pressure on him but let him play football. When you let him play football you can see what he does for Dortmund, you can see what he does here for England.
“Every time he puts on an England shirt he grows and is getting better and better all the time. Of course there are things he can improve on and get better at — he’s only 19 — but the platform and the basis he has got he can go as high as he wants to.”
