€600m is not enough! Chelsea want Bellingham

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 15 Feb 2023 15:27 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea are ready to make a bumper summer transfer bid for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, according to The Telegraph.

The Blues’ spending over the last two transfer windows has smashed records, with over £600 million committed to the signing of new players, including Enzo Fernandez, whose fee of €121m represents a new British transfer record.

Bellingham, meanwhile, is one of the most sought-after players in the market, with the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City leading the way for the England international.

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Indeed, The Telegraph reports that Chelsea do not see themselves among the frontrunners to sign the 19-year-old, and the likelihood that they will miss out on Champions League football next season makes their prospects of signing the player more remote.

But Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has performed what appeared impossible in the transfer market over the course of the last seven months with incredible investment that has brought a string of promising young talents to the club on a long-term basis.

He will open contact with Bellingham’s representatives and attempt to give the Stamford Bridge side a shot of signing the player in the summer, when it looks in all probability that he will move on.

There are some major hurdles to overcome, not least Financial Fair Play, which will become a more acute consideration if Chelsea miss out on the Champions League. Bellingham is expected to move for in excess of €120m and will have wages of more than €225,000 per week.

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Dortmund’s Bellingham stance

Dortmund, meanwhile, have indicated that they will do everything in their power to keep Bellingham at the club for as long as possible, though their hopes of tying him to a new contract appear increasingly remote.

Earlier this week, BVB director Sebastian Kehl said on that subject: “No new development has taken place. We will have to be patient a little longer. Of course, we'll try to keep Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund as long as possible because he's an incredibly important player.”

The England player is under contract until 2025 and will led his Dortmund side into Champions League battle against Chelsea on Wednesday, at which point he will have the opportunity to see one of his prospective suitors close up.