Liverpool could reportedly try to wrap up a deal for in-demand Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham in the January transfer window.
The 19-year-old has long been linked with a move to Anfield as Jurgen Klopp prepares to spend big on a marquee midfield signing in 2023.
Bellingham was tipped to complete a return to his homeland in the most recent transfer window, but Dortmund refused to enter business with interested parties.
Furthermore, Liverpool initially had no plans to bolster their engine room until injuries took their toll at the end of August, with Arthur arriving on loan from Juventus before sustaining a serious thigh issue himself.
However, Bellingham's future is expected to dominate the talk of the transfer market next year, with multiple clubs preparing to battle for the former Birmingham City youngster.
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According to a report from Football Insider, Liverpool are now in pole position to win the race for Bellingham's signature, and a transfer in January is not beyond the realm of possibility.
The report adds that Liverpool chiefs have already held discussions with the England international's representatives, whom they now enjoy a strong relationship with.
Any mid-season deal for Bellingham would see the teenager become Liverpool's most expensive signing of all time - surpassing the £64m deal for Darwin Nunez which could rise to £85m - but it is claimed that the Reds are prepared to fork out a "huge" sum of money to make the move possible.
Bellingham's father Mark Bellingham is said to play a major role in his son's development and future, and he supposedly believes that Liverpool would be an ideal next club for the Dortmund man.
However, Liverpool must make sure of Champions League qualification to have a chance of signing the youngster, with Klopp's men currently sixth in the Premier League table and seven points off the top four, albeit with a game in hand on Tottenham Hotspur.
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Despite the small possibility of a January deal, Dortmund are expected to wait until the summer before parting ways with Bellingham, and CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has conceded that the Englishman could leave in 2023 if the Bundesliga side find themselves unable to compete financially.
"I think as soon as Qatar is over (hold talks). We will have a general discussion about what he actually wants. With him, with his parents, with whom we have a very close relationship. And of course with his advisor," Watzke recently told Bild.
"And then he should just tell us whether he wants to stay or whether he wants to leave. In both cases, we will have a very pleasant and reasonable discussion with each other. But we don't have to pretend that the issue is not on the table. If the really big clubs are involved, then we can't afford to have a fight financially."
Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are also expected to be in the running for Bellingham, who remains under contract at the Westfalenstadion until 2025.
Bellingham has enjoyed another productive campaign for Dortmund with nine goals and three assists in 22 appearances across all tournaments, taking his total for the club to 19 strikes and 21 assists in 112 matches.
The 19-year-old will be hoping to start for England when they meet Iran in their opening match of the 2022 World Cup in Group B on Monday.
Ben Knapton
