Jude Bellingham, a 19-year-old English midfielder playing for Borussia Dortmund, is the most highly sought-after player in the transfer market, with Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester City all vying for his signature.
Real Madrid have made Bellingham their primary target, with reports suggesting that the youngster’s preferred destination could be Santiago Bernabeu. The Spanish team is ready to offer a €10 million-a-year contract to the player, but they will not meet Borussia Dortmund’s asking price of €150 million.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are ready to submit a higher bid than Real Madrid to sign the 19-year-old, but they will have to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City also has an interest in the player and is confident of convincing him to sign with them with arguments such as their attractive footballing model, their financial potential, Pep Guardiola’s presence, and the possibility to rejoin forces with Erling Haaland.
Madrid leading the race for Bellingham?
Real Madrid believes that Bellingham is the ideal player to help their transition into a new era, but they are not willing to spend the figures they offered in their bid to sign Kylian Mbappe. However, the reality is that Los Blancos’ midfield does not need as much reinforcement as other areas.
Bellingham can’t be ruled out of the Spanish capital yet. Should one of Kroos or Modric leave at the end of the season, the English midfielder may skyrocket back to the top of their priority list.
Real Madrid are willing to meet Dortmund’s demands, but the German club has already stressed that the player will have the last word.
If Bellingham prioritizes his personal preference and the sporting project, he will probably end up playing at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu next season, as Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni did. Should he go for the big money, he will return to his native country to play in the Premier League.
Borussia Dortmund has already set a price tag of between 110 and 115 million euros plus bonuses. The transfer would cost a total 150 million euros. This is a similar figure to the one Dortmund demanded from Barcelona in 2017 for Ousmane Dembele, as the Blaugrana paid 105m euros and 40m in variables, which ended up being 30m.
The two Premier League clubs are negotiating Bellingham’s signing with Dortmund, and their offers are higher than that of Real Madrid, who are studying the formula to improve their bid by including bonuses based on potentially fulfilled objectives.
Premier League clubs still in the hunt
Liverpool were the first club to show their interest in the England international, but they are struggling due to ownership uncertainty. Jurgen Klopp believes that Bellingham’s signing will be fundamental in his bid to rebuild the team.
Real Madrid are reasonably optimistic about their chances of signing its primary target, Jude Bellingham, in the summer, despite having an offer well short of Dortmund’s asking price.
They are aware that they cannot compete with the financial muscle of the Premier League champions, but they are confident that the Borussia Dortmund midfielder will have the last word when it comes to deciding his future.
Passionate about the beautiful game and dedicated to Liverpool FC, where “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is not just a slogan, but a way of life. I live and breathe football, from the roar of the Anfield crowd to the tactical intricacies of the sport.
My expertise lies in dissecting the transfer market, tracking player movements, and uncovering the hidden gems destined for greatness. Whether it’s discussing potential signings, analyzing match strategies, or celebrating the brilliance of players, I’m always ready for a football conversation.
