By Wayne Veysey

9th Feb, 2023 | 5:37pm

Sources: Liverpool scout 'next Jude Bellingham' as pre-summer deal lined up

Liverpool scouts have been keeping close tabs on Birmingham City midfielder George Hall, sources have told Football Insider.

The Reds have been regularly watching the 18-year-old in action this season as they weigh up a potential move for him in the summer.

Hall has been coined the ‘next Jude Bellingham’ at St Andrew’s after following in the footsteps of the Borussia Dortmund star and bursting into the first team at a very young age.

Football Insider revealed in December that both Liverpool and Everton joined the chase to sign the exciting Birmingham starlet.

Leeds United had a £3million bid for Hall rejected last summer and retain an interest in him going into the summer window.

Liverpool will want a deal in place for Hall well before the summer if they are to push ahead with a deal for the in-demand talent.

Hall first joined Birmingham aged eight, when he was signed up for the club’s academy in 2012.

He spent nine years working his way through the ranks of Birmingham’s youth setup and signed a two-year scholarship with the Blues in 2020.

His first professional contract at the club followed in 2021 following Premier League interest from Leeds United, Southampton, Newcastle United and Brighton.

Hall’s debut came in January 2022 aged 17 when he started alongside Troy Deeney in a 2-1 loss to QPR.

Hall had to wait until May to make another Championship appearance in the final game of the season, but he’s enjoyed much more game time in 2022-23 campaign with 18 league appearances under his belt.

The midfielder’s last Championship appearance came in the goalless draw to Blackpool in early December and he’s failed to make the matchday squad since.

In other news, Everton agree deal with Lee Sargeson as he heads in from Brighton