Liverpool issued Bellingham warning as Klopp told Elliott isn’t ready

Liverpool should have made a greater attempt to sign Jude Bellingham earlier in his career, claims Ally McCoist. The Rangers legend says the Reds need to make major additions to their midfield, claiming Harvey Elliott is not yet good enough to be a regular starter in the biggest of matches.Liverpool are set to be in the running to sign England star Bellingham at the end of the season. However, his performances for club and country have only seen the list of clubs interested in him increase.Borussia Dortmund understandably want to keep the player, whose contract does not expire until 2025. Bellingham doesn’t turn 20 until next June and is set to play at his second major tournament for England later this month after being named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar.But McCoist is concerned Liverpool may have missed the boat on Bellingham. He says he or Declan Rice is the type of player Liverpool need, claiming Elliott is not yet strong enough to be relied upon against top opposition.READ MORE: Man Utd ‘tell Maguire he can leave’ with three clubs keen on transfer Liverpool transfer news: Jurgen Klopp faces a contest to sign Jude Bellingham (Image: GETTY)McCoist told talkSPORT: ‘I think Liverpool should have broken the bank and got that [Bellingham] deal done earlier, I really do. How long have we been speaking about looking at Liverpool’s midfield?’I know he didn’t have a good time over in Paris but they’re missing [Georginio] Wijnaldum as well, to be brutally honest with you. You look at that side, I like Harvey Elliott as a player, absolutely 100 per cent, I think he’s a good player.”But is he strong enough right now to be starting in that midfield? I’m not so sure.’Absolutely [for the bigger games], that’s what I’m talking about because that’s where Liverpool want to be and where they should be. If somebody could get the two of them, Bellingham and Rice, dear me, that would be phenomenal.DON’T MISSMan Utd handed double injury blow ahead of Aston Villa as Ten Hag seeks revengeEngland boss Southgate hits back at Maguire critics after World Cup selectionLewandowski accused of World Cup ‘sabotage’ of Barcelona after red card Liverpool transfer news: Harvey Elliott has been a regular this season (Image: GETTY)