Real Madrid eye Arsenal target as Bellingham back-up

FT Desk

• 15 Nov 2022 22:36 GMT
• 3 min read

Jude Bellingham is Real Madrid's primary transfer target for next summer, but the Spanish giants have a Plan B if the Borussia Dortmund man goes elsewhere, one that will frustrate Arsenal…

Real had a generational three-man midfield with Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro, but with Modric 37, Kroos 32, and Casemiro already having been allowed to leave for Manchester United for €80 million this summer, they are beginning to look to the future.

Aurelien Tchoumeni was bought for €100m from Monaco this summer, joining fellow French youngster Eduardo Camavinga at the Bernabeu, and los Blancos want to make Bellingham the third cog in what would be their midfield for the next decade.

READ: Jude Bellingham: Dortmund tell Man Utd and Liverpool transfer target he can go

Bellingham or bust?

Real are reportedly the reason Bellingham hasn't renewed with Dortmund this season, and the Bundesliga side's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke recently admitted that: "If the really big clubs are involved, then we can't afford to have a fight financially."

But Real don't want to get into a bidding war either. Gone is the Galactico era of signing the biggest starts in world football regardless of price, and Bellingham's star has risen so dramatically that Manchester City have entered the race, and have an ace in the hole with Bellingham's former Dortmund teammate Erling Haaland.

— Leicester City (@LCFC) March 31, 2022

Should they miss out on Bellingham, Real have identified Youri Tielemans as an alternative.

READ: Barcelona suffer transfer blow with target Arsenal-bound

"Real Madrid are closely following Youri Tieleman's progress," report Spanish newspaper Sport. "Zinedine Zidane had him scouted in the past and the Belgian remains an alternative in the event that Madrid run out of options to incorporate Jude Bellingham, their main target, next season."

While Bellingham's transfer fee is expected to reach at least the €100m Tchouameni's did, Tielemans would be available on a free, with his contract at King Power Stadium up in the summer.

He has reportedly already entered into negotiations with Arsenal, but nothing has been signed as yet, and the Gunners could be left extremely disappointed if Bellingham decides Madrid is not for him.