Real Madrid are set to rival Liverpool next summer in the race to secure the signature of Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.
The 18-year-old is one of the most exciting young players in world football and his terrific performances in the Bundesliga have earned him plenty of suitors. Numerous sides have been linked with bringing Bellingham back to England, having left Birmingham in 2020.
However, he looks set to remain in Germany for another campaign and will be keen to be a part of Gareth Southgate’s plans for the Qatar World Cup. And next summer, Liverpool are planning to try to sign the playmaker.
As we previously revealed, Jurgen Klopp has decided not to sign a midfielder this summer in favour of targeting Bellingham in 2023. However, AS has reported that Real Madrid also have the same plans and feel that he would be the final piece to their midfield puzzle in the long term.
The Santiago Bernabeu outfit signed Aurelien Tchouameni from under the noses of Liverpool earlier this window in a deal worth £60m, which led Klopp to hatch his Bellingham plan. However, Madrid want to acquire the services of the teenage prospect so that they have what is likely to be the best midfield in world football for the future – with Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde already at the club.
Dortmund have already sold one top star this summer, Erling Haaland, and do not want to lose two of their best-performing stars in the same window, nor do they need to financially. Haaland joined Manchester City in a deal worth £51million, making Pep Guardiola’s side firm favourites to retain the Premier League next season and also finally lift the Champions League.
In the short term, Klopp will certainly feel that he has enough depth in midfield to compete in the short-term; though that could be subject to change. Fringe options like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita have both been linked with moves away from Anfield in the coming months, which means that the manager will be relying on veteran James Midfielder and younger players to step up and play more prominent roles in his side.
Aston Villa and Newcastle have both been linked with versatile playmaker Oxlade-Chamberlain, who made 17 appearances for the Reds last season and is coming into the final year of his contract at the club. Whilst Keita has been tipped to be used as part of swap deals for Nico Barella from Inter Milan, and more recently Adrien Rabiot of Juventus.
If Klopp does decide that he wants to pursue Bellingham vigorously next summer then he will be keen to ensure he has enough budget to fend off interest from the likes of Madrid – and other top European sides that inevitably have constructed a similar summer 2023 plan. The Athletic have reported that Dortmund have placed an £80million price tag on Bellingham earlier this month, and that figure is sure to increase further if he can perform just as impressively in the upcoming campaign and on the international stage.
