Chelsea are ready to rival Liverpool and Manchester United for the signing of Jude Bellingham this summer should he look to depart Borussia Dortmund.
The Englishman is one of the hottest prospects in world football, and is expected to begin a frenzy for his signature should it become public knowledge that he is free to leave next summer, with reports claiming that he will cost upwards of £100m should he depart Germany.
And the Sun report that Chelsea will be among the sides looking to sign the 19 year old, with the Blues no stranger to spending plenty of money to get their way. They shelled out over £250m on new faces last summer, and don’t plan on stopping in 12 months time.
“The Blues are looking to snap up some of the top young talent since the takeover and new manager Graham Potter is a huge fan of the England international”, they claim, and as a result “after a record-breaking summer under Todd Boehly this season, Chelsea hope to be in the mix.”
Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei both arrived in the summer to future-proof Chelsea’s midfield. but with both N’Golo Kante and Jorginho out of contract next summer, the Blues will need a ready-made replacement to step into the breach.
Bellingham himself, who is set to make his 100th appearance for Borussia Dortmund this weekend, refused to be drawn into speculation on his future when quizzed ahead of their Champions League defeat to Manchester City, suggesting it would be disrespectful to his current employers.
“The club have done loads for me and made me feel very welcome since I first came and gave me the opportunities to develop even further. To look past that and into the future would be disrespectful”, he told reporters.
But, it sounds as though plenty of clubs are already lining up to attempt to lure the Englishman next summer, with a lack of release clause in Bellingham’s contract meaning that a bidding war could well be on the way.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/xlmedia/75056cb2-70a2-47ac-a9bf-dc86877bc260.png)
