Chelsea's pursuit of Borussia Dortmund and England youngster Jude Bellingham looks set to continue over the next few months as interest pours in for a potentially generational talent. It comes as little surprise though given his performances on both the domestic and international stage.
For his club side, the 19-year-old has already become a key member of the squad, featuring every week and even captaining them at times. As for the Three Lions, the former Birmingham City player is starting to make his mark during a huge World Cup campaign for his nation.
“The quality, everybody knows it. The whole package is really good,” Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said when giving his assessment of the youngster earlier this year. “He was 17 when he arrived but it was not just about his quality, [it was] how he was leading, his kicking, going to the referee. This guy was something special in terms of his mentality. Now he is 19 and he is already one of the captains.”
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Amid such impressive displays, reports claim that Dortmund will be willing to let Bellingham go in the coming transfer windows, but with a transfer price of roughly £128million. While that may come at a hefty price, the midfielder could be a player for a long-term project as much as fitting into a current team.
That could be a huge reason for Chelsea's interest, with owner Todd Boehly looking to make the most out of signing a younger profile of player compared to the previous regime. With interest in Bellingham across the board, it could be tricky for the Blues to put the groundwork in to land him.
However, they have been given a boost in their chances as Sky Sports report that Manchester United have dropped out of the race to sign the 19-year-old. It could mean one less hurdle for the club to overcome in terms of trying to land Bellingham.
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