How can Real Madrid beat Manchester City to the signing of Jude Bellingham?

Jude Bellingham isn’t going to leave Borussia Dortmund on the cheap. Is that the understatement of the season? Liverpool have already dropped out of the race as a result, with two clubs now fighting it out for the 19-year-old’s signature. With the recruitment of the midfielder now nothing more than just a pipe-dream for the Premier League side, they have turned their attentions to strengthening various areas of their team. Instead of spending the €150 million ($166.55 million) that the Germans are demanding for their key player, the Reds are looking to bolster their roster with two or even three midfielders, as reported by a number of different media outlets in the United Kingdom.

Two or three clubs after Jude Bellingham?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano also commented on the news, adding that the fight to sign Bellingham was now essentially a two-horse race between Real Madrid and Manchester City...although Manchester United could yet enter the equation, depending on the outcome of the potential takeover of the club.

The numbers mentioned don’t appear to favour Madrid, who aren’t keen to enter into a bidding war that would further elevate the transfer fee. AS has already reported that Los Blancos want to avoid spending over €100 million ($111 million), to which the player’s salary - on a six-year contract, according to Romano - and various commissions would then have to be added.

Real Madrid’s strategy to convince England midfielder

City, of course, would be more willing to dip further into their pockets. In an effort to counteract that, Real Madrid, as also reported by AS, have already made contact with Bellingham, with club representatives meeting the England international in Dortmund. There, it was explained to the teenager why a move to Spain would be the best for his career, based on the club’s recent successes, the solidarity of the Madrid ‘project’ and their commitment to uniting some of world soccer’s greatest young stars to ensure a smooth transition away from the team that has won multiple Champions Leagues. The club was sold to Vinícius, Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni in the exact same way.

Modric and Kroos futures not linked to Bellingham move

AS reported all the way back in March 2022 that Bellingham was Real Madrid’s preferred option to replace Luka Modric long-term. Both are, of course, very different types of midfielders, but it is believed that the Englishman could play an equally important role in the team. Nothing has changed in the last year and a bit, with the futures of the Croat and Toni Kroos, both of who are out of contract in June, not linked to a potential move for the Dortmund man.

Los Merengues are hopeful that the close relationship they have with BVB, as well as the one that exists between Madrid president Florentino Pérez and Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, will count for something and help convince Bellingham to make the move to Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. If it simply comes down to who can pay the most money, City surely can’t lose.

Dortmund’s last-ditch attempt to keep Bellingham

As the transfer saga rumbles on, Dortmund haven’t given up all hope of keeping onto Bellingham for a little longer, with sporting director Sebastian Kehl looking to offer the midfielder a one-year extension to his deal, which is due to expire in 2025. If Bellingham were to agree, there would be a clause in his ‘new’ contract which would allow him to leave the club for a set fee from 2024 onwards.

However, BVB are not especially optimistic and aware that these last few weeks of the season are likely to bring Bellingham’s time at the club to an end. Signed from Birmingham City in €25 million ($27.76 million) in 2020, the England international is set to make the German club a huge profit wherever he ends up. And that will be very much up to him.