Report reveals five-man Liverpool shortlist to improve their midfield as PL star ‘drops out’

Liverpool have compiled a shortlist of five midfielders to pursue in the summer transfer market, according to reports, after ending their interest in Jude Bellingham.

The Reds have had a terrible season in the Premier League with Jurgen Klopp’s side sitting eighth in the table, 12 points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United – who occupy the last Champions League spot – and 29 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Their drop off this season is all the more staggering after Klopp guided them to within two matches of an unprecedented Quadruple before being pipped to the Premier League by Manchester City and being beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

The Liverpool midfielder has taken the brunt of the criticism this season with critics insisting they aren’t protecting the Reds defence well enough and need to be more creative too.

Reports that Liverpool had earmarked a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham this summer had given the Reds hope for next season .

A deal for Bellingham would’ve cost at least £130m and Liverpool have decided they will use that money to buy a number of players in the summer instead.

And now Football Insider claim that Liverpool have ‘made a shortlist of five midfield targets after pulling out of the race for Jude Bellingham’.

The report insists that ‘Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Joao Palhinha, Nicolo Barella and Alexis Mac Allister are the five names on Liverpool’s shopping list this summer’.

Football Insider explain that Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo is also ‘admired’ but he ‘drops out’ of the list with his fee expected to be huge after the Seagulls rejected a £70m bid from Arsenal in January.

, another Brighton midfielder, Alexis Mac Allister, has emerged as their ‘first-choice target’ after pulling out of a deal for Bellingham.

GiveMeSport journalist Dean Jones reckons Mac Allister is “could actually be attainable” this summer for Liverpool as they look to step up their interest.

Jones wrote: “A more recent name on the radar but that’s because there is suddenly a feeling that he could actually be attainable. Many clubs like the look of Mac Allister and at the moment sources say Liverpool just want to make sure they are in the conversation if he does look for a new club.”