Who will Bellingham join this summer? Real Madrid and Manchester City lead race

There is little doubt at Real Madrid about who they want to sign this summer. For more than a year now, Los Blancos’ priority target for the 2023 off-season period has been Jude Bellingham.

Modric successor the priority over Haaland, Mbappé

While Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé are also high on Madrid’s wishlist, the club doesn’t plan to move for either striker until summer 2024, when both are expected to be easier to snap up. This year, the Spanish and European champions want to sign a successor to Luka Modric (although that doesn’t mean the Croat will be leaving at the end of the season; he may well pen a 12-month extension). Bellingham is the choice as Modric’s heir.

Dortmund aren’t going to let Bellingham leave on the cheap, though; indeed, the Germans hope to bank around €150m for the midfielder. Their bargaining position is strengthened by the lack of a buy-out clause in the England star’s contract - this was not the case when they sold Haaland to Manchester City last year - and the fact that the player still has two years to run on his present Dortmund deal.

Liverpool are out of the race - but Man City are in it

Liverpool had appeared well placed to compete with Madrid for Bellingham’s signature this summer, but the Reds have now pulled out of the race for the 19-year-old, having been put off by the likely cost of the deal. “You have to realise what you can do and then work with it,” Liverpool head coach Jürgen Klopp said last week. “That is your job. We are not children. When you ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they tell you, ‘I don’t know, a Ferrari’, you wouldn’t say ‘that’s a good idea’ - you would say ‘that is too expensive and anyway you cannot drive it’.”

However, Liverpool’s decision to turn their attentions elsewhere doesn’t mean Madrid’s pursuit of the player will now be straightforward. Far from it: Los Merengues have their work cut out as much as ever.

Firstly, because Madrid are adamant that they won’t go as high as €150m. The club is unwilling to spend more than €100m on Bellingham - and that includes the various commissions that will have to be paid along the way. When it comes to both salaries and transfer fees, the Spaniards are sticking firmly to a policy of reined-in spending. In view of Bellingham’s ability - and, given his age, his abundant potential for growth - Madrid are prepared to dig deep for the Englishman. But not as deep as Dortmund want.

That’s where Madrid’s second problem arises. Right now, their chief rivals for Bellingham’s signature are Manchester City, a suitor that could well be prepared to meet Dortmund’s asking price. Madrid are confident that they can capitalise on their excellent relationship with the Bundesliga club to negotiate a lower fee, but that task will be made much more difficult if City go to Dortmund with a vastly better offer.

Madrid hope their prestige will be Bellingham ace card

Madrid’s prospects of snaring Bellingham therefore depend on their ability to barter with Dortmund - and sell the club to the player. Los Blancos hope their historic stature, coupled with the major silverware success they’ve enjoyed over the past decade - particularly their five Champions League wins - will sway him. A recent report in the German media suggests they might. According to the newspaper Bild, Bellingham wants to play “at a prestigious club with values and the right reputation, far from what others such as City and Paris Saint-Germain represent.”

If Bild’s information is correct, that is certainly good news for Madrid. But, given City’s financial muscle and the quality of the sporting project they can offer the player, the Premier League champions will be an extremely tough competitor.

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