Premier League star Conor Coady has revealed that some Liverpool players tried to influence a teammate to join their club while on international duty.
The former Wolves captain was a part of the World Cup squad in Qatar 2022, and at the time, Jude Bellingham was one of the most sought after players in the world.
The young midfielder had strolled onto England's starting team, and took to the international stage with an ease that just made it obvious that he was a special player.
At the time Bellingham was with Dortmund, but it was well known that he was likely to leave the club that summer, so with his ear close by while in camp, the Liverpool stars got to work.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson got close to the young prodigy and made no secret about the fact that they thought Anfield was the perfect destination for him.
Coady, who came through Liverpool's academy but went on to play for their Merseyside neighbours Everton, revealed this to be true in an interview with the BBC.
I think Hendo and Trent tried with Jude at the World Cup, I do, 100 percent,” the 31-year-old told BBC 5 Live Sport.
“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,” Coady added.
“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.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson tried EVERYTHING to get Jude Bellingham to join Liverpool 😂#BBCFootball #EURO2024 #LFC pic.twitter.com/QcDsPpx3Du
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) June 28, 2024
READ HERE: Power Ranking The 16 Teams Still Standing At EURO 2024
Fans often suspected that players would try and influence transfer business when on international duty, and maybe try and convince their teammates to join their respective clubs.
It isn't a new phenomena either, as former Man United star Gary Neville even admitted to 'tapping up' Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard when they were on England duty.
Speaking on The Overap's 'Stick to Football' podcast, Neville said: "Stevie told this in his book, where I went into his room with England and asked him to sign for Manchester United.
I was meeting up with England for the Euros, and he [Ferguson] rang me and said it's ambitious, but his words were, 'Tell him I'll go and fetch him, and I'll walk him back down the East Lancs'.
"I went to see Stevie, and he quite categorically [rejected it] pretty quickly.
"He said he would never get out of Liverpool and his family would never get out of Liverpool."
It's fair to say that Neville was clutching at straws with that one, and although Liverpool could have been a possible destination for Bellingham, their failure to qualify for the Champions League that season all but sealed the decision for him.
The Englishman went on to win the European Cup in his first season with the Spanish giants, so even though teammates might be in each other's ears while togging out for their country, it doesn't mean they will be successful in influencing their decision.
