Jude Bellingham is currently with Ben White and other Arsenal stars in Qatar (Picture: Getty)
Jude Bellingham will snub Liverpool to join Arsenal in the summer, former Chelsea left-back Scott Minto has predicted.
The Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder is already considered one of the best players in the world and has been liked with a big-money move in the next summer transfer window, with Liverpool expected to be the frontrunners.
But with Jurgen Klopp’s side enduring a tough start to the Premier League season, with Liverpool down in sixth as the campaign pauses for the World Cup in Qatar, Minto feels Bellingham could be tempted to move to north London.
‘In terms of Jude Bellingham, do I think he’s going to come to the Premier League? Absolutely I do,’ Minto told Ladbrokes about the 19-year-old.
‘I mean, up until the start of this season, everybody was saying he’s Liverpool’s player, because they were right up there with Manchester City.
‘But I’m still wondering whether or not they’re going to make the top four – and if they’re out of the Champions League, I’m not so sure he’d be as keen to go there.
‘I’m not sure what his contract looks like, but there’s no doubt he’ll be playing in the Premier League… absolutely no doubt; he’s good enough to play a key role for the very best teams in the world.
‘The very best team for me is Manchester City, but actually, the way Arsenal are playing at the moment… if they can finish in the top four, or better still, in second place, or even go on to win the title, then all of a sudden they become as attractive a proposition as City, just like that.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised to see that happening, if Arsenal are in the Champions League next season.
‘When you look at what that team is all about under Mikel Arteta, and there’d be a need for them to strengthen if they’re playing on Europe’s biggest stage, why couldn’t they go and get a Bellingham?
‘Look, at the start of the season I had Arsenal finishing in fifth place, or around that area; I didn’t think they’d make the top four.
‘But I’m constantly re-evaluating things as each hurdle has been passed.
‘And I can tell you now, I genuinely think that if they finish in the top four, suddenly they become one of the most attractive teams in the world to join.
‘If this is a team which is already fighting City for the title, after just a year of Arteta turning things around, that’s a team which ticks every box.’
MORE : ‘Jude Bellingham would be perfect fit!’ – Jamie Carragher backs Liverpool to spend £200m
MORE : Real Madrid believe Liverpool have ‘complicated’ their deal to sign Jude Bellingham
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‘I wouldn’t be surprised to see that happening…’
