Borussia Dortmund have reportedly set a staggering €150 million price tag for midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Rated as one of Europe’s exceptional young talents, Jude Bellingham, 19, has established himself as a regular for England since joining Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham City in 2020. The central midfielder has already represented the Three Lions 15 times, becoming the youngest player in Euros history when he featured at last year’s competition.
It is no surprise that the England international’s form and talent has attracted interest from a host of elite European clubs. According to The Athletic, Borussia Dortmund will allow Jude Bellingham to leave the club if their €150 million valuation is met next summer.
This could be a very crucial year for Bellingham as he has a chance to star for the England national team in the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup in November. As clubs in the Premier League and abroad will continue monitoring his progress at the club and international level, here are three clubs that should make a move for the teenager in 2023.
#Liverpool
Liverpool were heavily linked with Jude Bellingham earlier this summer, with Jurgen Klopp reportedly a huge admirer of the player’s talent and potential.
The Reds snapped up Arthur Melo on a season-long loan from Juventus with an option to buy on deadline day, but there is an understanding that they might need more than one midfielder by next season. This is because James Milner is at the twilight of his career, while Alcantara and Jordan Henderson are into their 30s.
With Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain injury prone, Liverpool could do with revamping their midfield unit. A move for Bellingham, in that regard, would make perfect sense. A box-to-box midfielder by trade, Bellingham possesses speed, energy and technical qualities, which makes him a tailor-made option for Klopp’s heavy metal style of play at Anfield.
#Manchester United
Like Liverpool, Manchester United are long-term admirers of Bellingham. In fact, they tried their best to beat Dortmund to his signature a couple of years ago, with the Red Devils hosting the Bellingham family at Carrington. However, it didn’t work out and the player moved to Dortmund from Birmingham City.
Bellingham has been a huge hit since arriving at Dortmund, registering 12 goals and 19 assists in 97 appearances. Dortmund often sell their best players and are willing to do the same with the 19-year-old, should a club meet their €150 million valuation.
With that said, Man United must revive their interest in Bellingham. The Englishman is a burgeoning talent who can do everything expected from a central midfielder. Creative, hard-working and tenacious with a knack for goals, he will be an ideal fit for Erik ten Hag’s project.
Even if the asking price is steep, the Red Devils cannot afford to miss out on a prodigious talent like Bellingham for a second time.
#Chelsea
The international break should have given new Chelsea boss Graham Potter to plan for the gruelling October month and beyond, transfers and on many more things. Having done a great job at Brighton over the last few seasons, it will be interesting to see if Potter can live up to a club with far bigger ambitions and thrive under the relentless pressure of managing at an elite Premier League outfit.
The midfield is one area the English tactician may want to reinforce in the upcoming transfer windows. In N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher and Denis Zakaria, Chelsea are well-stocked in midfield, but with Kante missing a lot of action over the last 15 to 18 months due to injuries, Jorginho well into his 30s and Zakaria only on loan from Juventus, Potter could make the signing of a central midfielder one of his top priorities.
Bellingham, in that regard, would be a welcome addition to the Blues squad. Bellingham has already established himself as a key player at Dortmund, and he is only going to get better with age, experience and coaching.
Technically gifted and tactically smart with the versatility to play in various positions across the midfield, the 15-cap England international would instantly improve Chelsea’s squad. The €150 million asking price set by Dortmund is steep, but part-owner Todd Boehly could make a statement at Stamford Bridge next summer by signing Bellingham.