According to reports in Germany, Borussia Dortmund will only consider selling Jude Bellingham next summer should they receive a bid in the region of €100million (£86m) to €150m (£129m). The 19-year-old is lighting up the World Cup at the moment with his latest performance against Senegal seeing him dubbed as "breathtaking" by Gary Neville.
Neville said to Sky Sports: "I was in the [ITV] studio last night with Roy Keane, who could do everything. Steven Gerrard could do everything, he could defend, he could pass, he could attack. These are very unique talents in world football and ones that I played with.
"That's what he [Bellingham] reminds me of. To put him in that category, that is really high praise because you couldn't maybe talk higher than about those types of players. Their ability to basically contribute in different areas of the pitch.
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"So, how at 19 he's delivering it though is the unique part. What he's doing now at 19 at a World Cup I've not seen before, it's breathtaking and something that will attract a lot of interest from Premier League clubs."
Looking at the bookmakers' odds right now, Liverpool and Manchester City are the two clear favourites to sign the teenage sensation, with Chelsea down in fifth, behind the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United. The Blues do have a long-term interest in Bellingham, an admiration that stretches back to when Roman Abramovich was the owner of the club and the England international was breaking through the academy at Birmingham City.
football.london understands Chelsea had several scouts watching Bellingham during his academy days and when he broke into the first-team in the Championship. He, however, made a surprise move to Germany despite plenty of interest from the Premier League.
"I never dreamed of playing in Germany, I always thought it would be for Birmingham or in England and that would be me," Bellingham said in an interview with Xbox in April. "The chance to play for Dortmund came and I didn't really hesitate.
"Not one second have I ever regretted it or thought 'this is too hard for me'. I want to rise to the challenge every single day I am there."
Bellingham is now into his third season with Dortmund, but he still has just under three years remaining on his contract. He has said he's settled at Signal Iduna Park in the past but there is a growing expectation that the midfielder will return to England in the near future.
Chelsea's interest in Bellingham is understood to still be there with Todd Boehly now the co-owner following Abramovich's sale of the club earlier in the year. The American billionaire proved in the summer that he is not afraid to splash the cash in areas that can improve Chelsea and Bellingham, who operates as a box-to-box central midfielder, is an ideal candidate to make the Blues title challengers once again.
However, as expected at this point, he will not be cheap. Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has claimed Dortmund will demand a offer in the region of €100m (£86m) to €150m (£129m) for the teenager.
Chelsea could certainly join the bidding war that is expected to happen in the summer for Bellingham's future. Boehly will know how difficult it will be with multiple European powerhouses set to be involved in the action, but it's something Chelsea need to be keeping a close eye on. Talents like Bellingham don't come around often.
football.london understands Chelsea officials have held continuous conversations behind the scenes regarding midfield targets ahead of the upcoming January transfer window. Edson Alvarez remains on the club's radar, while Declan Rice is also a priority – but a move for the latter will be near-impossible in January, with a summer switch much more likely.
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