Bellingham to hold 'decisive' transfer talks this week

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 3 Jan 2023 08:28 GMT
• 3 min read

Jude Bellingham is set to hold a decisive meeting with Borussia Dortmund in the first week of January, in which he will tell the Bundesliga club where his future lies.

England international Bellingham is courted by a string of Europe’s leading clubs, with the 19-year-old boasting an expected transfer value of €88 million, according to FootballTransfers.

Real Madrid are leading contenders to sign the midfielder, but Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea offer competition from the Premier League for the transfer of the teenager.

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If the Spanish club appear to be the frontrunners, though, there is still a sizeable element of doubt over the player’s future.

AS reports that Bellingham will hold a meeting with Dortmund this week to tell his club his future intention. This comes before a mini training camp that will take place in Marbella. It is also a stance that echoes their actions with Erling Haaland, who left in the summer of 2021 for Manchester City.

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While BVB want Bellingham to sign a new contract that will boast a minimum fee release clause of €150 million, the Spanish paper reports that the Bundesliga side believe that he will 95% leave the club in the summer.

Dortmund, meanwhile, have outlined what they expect to receive from any club that buys the midfielder. Their asking price stands at an upfront fee of €100m or more, plus bonuses that are worth in the region of €40m more.

Real Madrid and Liverpool in Bellingham battle

Real Madrid are thought to be tightening their grasp on the player, according to sources in Spain, yet the financial muscle of the Premier League has the capacity to disrupt them.

Liverpool, in particular, appear to be in an increasingly strong position to sign Bellingham. Not only do the Reds need to add a young midfielder to their ranks, their steady climb up the Premier League suggests they will reach the Champions League next season – likely to be a minimum requirement for any club seeking to secure the Englishman.

Bellingham has four assists and nine goals for Dortmund in 29 matches so far this season, and his strong performances for England at the 2022 World Cup have established him as one of the best young players in the game.