Manchester United have known Jude Bellingham's talent for some time.
Back when he was still just a 16-year-old making such an impact at Birmingham City that his No.22 jersey would be retired upon his eventual departure, United were in the chase to be the lucky side to secure his prized signature. In March 2020, Bellingham was given a tour of Carrington as they met with the player and his parents to try and convince him to choose Old Trafford ahead of his inevitable transfer.
Yet, the teenager opted to move to Borussia Dortmund instead. Bellingham wanted guaranteed first-team minutes and the Bundesliga club could offer them while pointing at the success of fellow England prodigy Jadon Sancho as proof his talents wouldn't be squandered in Germany.
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United couldn't offer the same and it must be to their regret now, especially as even then it was clear he was better than any of their central-midfield options. Now, two-and-a-half years later, United are once again in the position of wanting a talented Dortmund player after previously missing out on them.
However, unlike Sancho - who cost them over ten times what Dortmund paid to Manchester City - their chances of finally getting their hands on Bellingham are close to nill.
Midfield certainly isn't the position most in need of improvement - that goes to striker - but United are being strongly linked with a move for Bellingham. The midfield was upgraded significantly in the summer with the additions of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, who have had a transformative effect on the side, but Erik ten Hag didn't get his hands on top target Frenkie de Jong.
The new manager wanted his fellow Dutchman so badly because he saw (and probably still sees) him as a crucial figure in his ideal system, a player who has a great range of passing and is comfortable on the ball. Bellingham ticks those boxes and then some so the links are of little surprise.
Especially as United are one of the few clubs that could be able to stump up what is going to be a £100million transfer fee at the very least. That will be going up with every passing great England performance and £150million would not be a surprise.
Such an astronomical figure would be no problem for Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain while United and Chelsea could probably stretch there just about but that aside there aren't many clubs who have that sort of cash to hand, even Real Madrid and Liverpool.
But financial might won't be enough. United can dream all they like but the reality is they are not at the level to be able to sign such a generational talent.
Bellingham has the world at his feet and will not be short of options so it's remarkably difficult to see any outcome in which he chooses United. City are right there with a close friend and former teammate in Erling Haaland, the best manager in the game in Pep Guardiola and a near-guarantee of winning plenty of silverware. The move already seems depressingly inevitable as Haaland's was.
If they would stump up the ridiculous cash, there is also an exciting Liverpool side under Jurgen Klopp which would suit his all-action style brilliantly and the allure of lining up for the grand Real Madrid and playing alongside similar calibre talents in Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
United are heading in the right direction under Ten Hag but they remain a long way off being competitive for major trophies and it would be career malpractice for Bellingham to move there and run the risk of not enjoying the success he should.
United aren't even guaranteed a spot in the Champions League yet. They should focus their energy on making sure they do that so they can be in a position to sign the next generational talent instead.
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