Chelsea have been dealt a blow in the race for Borussia Dortmund talent Jude Bellingham with Real Madrid preparing an £87million bid.
The Blues are looking to reinforce their midfield options next summer and Bellingham has been subject to long-term interest from Chelsea, football.london understands. The 19-year-old is set to be at the centre of a major bidding war between Europe's elite clubs including the Blues, Liverpool, Manchester City and Madrid.
Dortmund slapped a £131million price tag on the England international over the summer in an effort to deter interest for one more season, but it is looking likely that Bellingham will leave the Bundesliga side next summer as clubs queue up to pitch their proposals to the talented midfielder. Bayern Munich have seemingly ruled themselves out of the running for Bellingham after director Oliver Kahn revealed the German giants are 'not thinking about it at all'.
READ MORE: Todd Boehly faces £150m Jude Bellingham Chelsea transfer dilemma amid 2022 World Cup influence
According to Spanish news outlet Marca, via The Daily Mail, the Dortmund star will be available next summer for £87million, a fee which Madrid will be happy to pay for the England international. The report also claims that talks between the Spanish giants and Bellingham's camp began a year ago, having now progressed to the 'numbers stage', as they look to thrash out a mega-deal for the midfielder.
Madrid are said to see the 19-year-old as the final piece to their midfield puzzle, having already secured the services of promising midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga in the past two seasons. Owner Florentino Perez has been looking to find long-term replacements that can live up to the standards set by Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro across the last decade.
Bellingham became the first teenager in Champions League history to score in three consecutive appearances, the first English teenager to start a game as captain of their side in the competition and the youngest captain to score in a Champions League match following his impressive display against Sevilla earlier this week. The young talent has already made 102 appearances for Dortmund and scored 14 goals since joining the German outfit for £25million from Birmingham back in 2020.
The Telegraph had suggested the Blues are looking to jump the queue in the race for the Three Lions starlet but due to Bellingham not having a release clause in his current deal which runs until 2026, Dortmund are likely to entertain a bidding war for their top talent. Declan Rice remains an option for Chelsea as Todd Boehly prepares for yet another busy summer transfer window with new manager Graham Potter keen to add players that fit his play style.
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