Steve McManaman believes Liverpool will not be short on midfield signings this summer even if they do indeed miss out on Jude Bellingham.
The Reds made it known last month that they were stepping away from their pursuit of top transfer target Bellingham after the scale of their required summer midfield overhaul became glaringly apparent.
But some fans were left to wonder whether they would go back in for the England international next summer if he remained at Borussia Dortmund for another season.
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However, according to reports today, Bellingham looks set to join reigning European champions Real Madrid.
But, speaking ahead of that big news, McManaman stated his belief that there are "players out there" who could do a job for his former club, who could be about to lose James Milner to Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.
And the 51-year-old, who scored 66 goals in 364 appearances for Liverpool before moving to Real Madrid, even put forward the name of Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips, who has hardly featured at the Etihad following his transfer from Leeds United.
“If Jude Bellingham is going to cost £150m and Liverpool can’t afford him, then you have to look who is the second best?” said McManaman on Premier League Producitions. “And who is the third best?
“You have to go down the list of people that you really, really like. 'Their stats are good. Their numbers are good and they play enough games. Are they the right quality to fit into this team? Are they in our budget to fit into this team?'
“Let’s be honest, Liverpool have got the cash. They have got money to spend. Yes, they can’t spend £150m on one player and then give them £700,000-a-week, that’s ridiculous. But there is money to be spent there.
“You spoke about Kalvin Phillips, for instance. He can’t even play in the team. He's maybe available. I am not saying he is the right player. What I am saying is that there are players out there, who due to misfortune or whatever, aren’t playing in the team.
“That doesn’t mean that they can’t then play for Liverpool’s team.”
As reported by the ECHO earlier today, the Reds are currently drawing up a list of potential midfield arrivals. They hold interest in Chelsea duo Connor Gallagher and Mason Mount, as well as Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister of Brighton & Hove Albion.
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