Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham has already admitted that he would have to be convinced that his next move is a 'forward' one amid the prospect of Manchester United making a fresh attempt to secure his signature.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, United could make a fresh pitch to land the talented 19-year-old, with senior sources at the club believing that he could help them end their almost decade-long wait to win the Premier League title again. United invited Bellingham and his family to the club's Carrington training base back in March 2020, just months before he sealed a £25million move to Dortmund.
The midfielder, who was sensational for England during their recent World Cup campaign in Qatar, was on Birmingham City's books at the time and was enjoying a breakthrough season with the Championship club, despite only being 16-years-old at the time. He has since blossomed into one of the most exciting players on the planet, meaning interest in his signature is currently rife.
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Liverpool and Real Madrid are reportedly the leading candidates to secure the youngster's signature in 2023, but United manager Erik ten Hag, who is desperate to add a striker to his squad in next month's transfer window, has told confidants that if he could sign any player in the world it would be him.
Bellingham, who scored one goal during England's World Cup campaign, has made considerable progress since joining Dortmund almost two-and-a-half years ago, highlighted by his tally of nine goals and three assists already this season. He is an exceptional talent and it remains to be seen just how many more gears he can still go up through.
With that said, it is little surprise that so many of Europe's leading heavyweights are so interested in securing his signature. But not only will any of his admirers have to part with an astronomical transfer fee to convince Dortmund into a sale, they will also have to convince Bellingham that it would be a progressive move for his career.
United, of course, have struggled to bring success to Old Trafford in recent years and, at the moment, do not have Champions League football to offer to potential new recruits. Nevertheless, they are striving to achieve that and return to Europe's premier club competition next season.
Outlining his hopes for the future back in May, Bellingham, speaking to Ruhr Nachrichten BVB, said: "I have my destiny in my hands. I know that if I try hard and trust the people around me, I can move forward.
"I came from England as a young talent. There was not much pressure. The first season went well. There were also matches where I sat on the bench and sometimes I did not play at all.
"I think my development this year has meant that I have played a bigger role in every game except two. I am very grateful to Dortmund for the way they have nurtured my talent.
"I think a lot of the credit goes to the coaching staff and the staff who keep the noise around me. In this way, I can only focus on winning matches, because that’s what I'm here for."
The key, therefore, will be for United to prove to Bellingham that a move to Old Trafford would be a 'move forward'. The Reds have made steady progress under Ten Hag since his arrival during the summer and will be determined to make further strides under his guidance in 2023.
If that happens, resulting in them securing Champions League qualification for next term, they might have a chance of throwing to their name into the ring to land Bellingham again, outlining a clear and exciting vision for the future in the process. The Dortmund star is a generational talent and will expect nothing but the very best.
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