It was roughly 12 months ago when Liverpool were starting to grow resigned to the fact that they would be unable to lure Jude Bellingham to Anfield.
The England international had long been their first-choice target, but staring down at the prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League while in need of an entire midfield overhaul, club bosses accepted that one marquee arrival was not what the Reds needed.
But while the 20-year-old has gone on to enjoy an astonishing maiden season with Real Madrid, recording 20 goals and nine assists from just 31 appearances to date, Liverpool’s change of tack has always worked out.
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Alexis Mac Allister had already emerged as a key target prior to winning the World Cup with Argentina in December 2022. And when club officials learned of a £35m release clause in the contract he had signed the previous October, the Brighton midfielder became a must-have as he kickstarted what would prove to be an £150m engine-room revamp.
But could history be about to repeat itself at Liverpool one year on as the Reds eye up successors for Klopp, with the German confirmed to be stepping down as manager at the end of the season? They could turn to the South Coast again, with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi now one of the leading candidates after previous favourite, Xabi Alonso, confirmed he would be staying put at Bayer Leverkusen.
The Italian will get the chance to audition at Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool host Brighton on their Premier League return after the March international break. And with De Zerbi unbeaten against Klopp from their four
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