England midfielder Jude Bellingham is likely to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. AFP Photo

Paul Kennedy

Liverpool fans, myself included, have had a torrid time of things this season. The end can’t come quick enough.

After lifting two trophies in the last campaign, and coming within a whisker of winning the Premier League and the Champions League, this time around has been a season to forget.

Sure, there were moments. Thumping Manchester United is never a bad thing. But on the whole, the Reds have been a shadow of the team we have seen in recent seasons.

It is also extremely unlikely Liverpool will finish in the top four and secure a lucrative place in the Champions League next season.

Jurgen Klopp has a massive job on his hands to rebuild. But, with the backing of the owners, I’m confident he can get the Liverpool heart pounding again.

This week though, there was another blow.

Jude Bellingham, the incredibly talented teenager on everyone’s radar, was hotly tipped to make Liverpool his next home.

Word on the street was that Anfield was his preferred destination and Liverpool was ready and willing to splash the cash and sign the midfielder.

So I was a little stunned, and very disappointed, to learn this week that the club will not be signing Bellingham and instead plan to use his hefty fee to bring in more than just one new face.

I’m also not 100% sure, and worried, why it’s taken Liverpool so long to decide that they can’t afford the 19-year-old.

They have known all along that he wouldn’t come cheap, so why is it only now Liverpool have decided to pull out?

Are there financial issues the supporters don’t know about?

There was talk of securing more investment, and the idea was even discussed that Liverpool would be sold if the right price was offered. But all that talk seems to have vanished.

You wouldn’t know this by watching Liverpool on television, but there is extensive, and expensive, building work going on at the stadium.

At the end of the season, a number of players are expected to leave, but only because they are past their sell-by date, so I don’t see the club recouping much money from their departures.

So I guess the buck stops with Klopp. He must take a tired and worn-out squad and somehow inject new life into it without oodles of cash to spend.

I hope he can work miracles because with no money from the Champions League coming in, that is exactly what he will have to do to avoid another terrible season. VNS