Dortmund issue Jude Bellingham warning to Liverpool and Real Madrid

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 26 Feb 2023 20:49 GMT
• 3 min read

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has issued a warning to Liverpool and Real Madrid that Jude Bellingham could yet sign a new contract at the club.

Bellingham is set to be the most wanted man on the transfer market this summer, with Liverpool and Madrid leading the race for his signature.

But Dortmund have publicly announced that they could yet decide to keep the English central midfielder past this summer - and thus extend his contract that expires in 2025.

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What did Kehl say about Bellingham?

"I'm trying to renew with him. Why not? Jude is just a winner," Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl told ZDF.

"There haven't been any talks yet, we're all very relaxed about it."

Madrid have emerged as the favourites to sign Bellingham in recent weeks, according to multiple sources, moving ahead of Liverpool, Chelsea and other interested parties.

Liverpool had been considered as favourites for the Borussia Dortmund star due to their excellent relationship with the player and his family.

But Madrid are believed to have moved ahead in the race, partly due to the fact that Liverpool are unlikely to be in the Champions League next term.

Madrid are in the process of renewing their legendary midfield, with Casemiro joining Man Utd this past summer and both Luka Modric and Toni Kroos seeing their contracts expire at the end of the season.

Bellingham is seen as the perfect player to complement Aurelien Tchouameni, who was signed for €100 million from Monaco this year.

As well as Real Madrid and Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City and PSG all are reported to want to sign Bellingham.

Bellingham was one of the young stars of the 2022 World Cup, scoring one, assisting one and being arguably England’s best player as they reached the quarter-finals.

Dortmund are expected to sell their star man this summer, having decided against losing him in 2022 during the same window that they lost Erling Haaland to Man City for €60m.

It is expected that Bellingham will cost over €100m for whichever club does sign him, with some reports quoting his asking price as high as €150m.