Liverpool was instructed to sign a Manchester City outcast as a substitute for Jude Bellingham.

Tony Cascarino, a former Chelsea forward, thinks Liverpool should try to buy Kalvin Phillips, a midfielder for Manchester City, during the forthcoming transfer window.

Liverpool is looking to bolster its midfield in the summer, but after Borussia Dortmund placed a price tag of more than £100 million on England international Jude Bellingham, they have lost interest in him.

The ECHO has learned that Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool’s personnel department feel it would be wiser to spend their capital on multiple signings rather than one high-profile individual.

Mason Mount, a midfielder for Chelsea, is quickly becoming one of the Red’s main targets. As well as Matheus Nunes of Wolves and Ryan Gravenberch of Bayern Munich, his teammate Conor Gallagher is a target.

With Phillips failing at City since coming from Leeds United in the summer, Cascarino thinks Liverpool should be looking at one of their competitors for an ideal midfield recruit.

Under Pep Guardiola, the 27-year-old has made just 15 appearances and has yet to start a Premier League game this year.

Although I think Jude Bellingham is a terrific player, Cascarino stated, “I don’t think he’s necessary for Liverpool at this time.”

Jude is a fantastic talent, and any club in Europe would want him. Liverpool isn’t even close to competing for him. But I don’t believe Liverpool needs him. Before that luxury, I believe more significant players need to be brought in. The most crucial thing is to sign two players whose primary responsibility is winning the ball back, somewhat akin to a Jordan Henderson type.

“I like Kalvin Phillips, but Man City hasn’t utilised him. We saw Phillips enough at Leeds to know that he is a fantastic ball-winner.

“I believe they need to return to their original strategy, which is to make their team even more formidable than before.

They had Henderson, Fabinho, and Gini Wijnaldum in midfield, and they were excellent. For me, it’s about reestablishing the team’s foundation.