Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson made every effort to persuade Jude Bellingham to join Liverpool during the 2022 World Cup, as revealed by Conor Coady.

Liverpool had long been admirers of the 20-year-old Bellingham while he was still at Borussia Dortmund and attracting interest from Europe’s top clubs.

Bellingham was widely regarded as Liverpool’s primary target last summer, as Jurgen Klopp planned to revamp his midfield. However, Real Madrid ultimately secured the former Birmingham City prodigy’s signature after Liverpool withdrew from the pursuit.

Before that transfer took place, Liverpool fans had speculated on social media that Alexander-Arnold and Henderson were trying to lure Bellingham to Anfield during the World Cup in late 2022—and Coady has now confirmed those rumors.

The Everton defender, who was part of England’s World Cup squad in Qatar, joked to BBC 5 Live Sport: “I think Hendo and Trent tried with Jude at the World Cup, I do, 100 percent.

He continued: “They man marked the life out of him. I think those two tried it and to be fair you would wouldn’t you if you’re at a club like that and you know he’s going to leave in the summer. 100 per cent you would, without a shadow of the doubt.

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“They were either side of him, we’d all be sat there and they’d be talking about how good Liverpool is, Klopp is and this sort of stuff and we’d all be sat there having something to eat and listening to them.”

Klopp admitted back in January that Liverpool were interested in a deal for Bellingham before changing their plans. They ended up signing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch last summer.