According to latest rumours, Borussia Dortmund have come up with a “secret plan” to hold onto their star player Jude Bellingham. Many clubs are interested in signing the England international this summer since he is one of the most sought-after players in European football. Several teams have been reported to be interested in the midfielder, including Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Real Madrid.
They might all be in for disappointment, though, as Dortmund are adamant in keeping Jude Bellingham at Signal Iduna Park. However, Dortmund wants to hold onto him for another year, according to the German media site Bild. this comes after the interested parties were well-informed that they will have to fork out a triple-figure fee if they are to acquire the services of the highly-rated teenager.
Dortmund plan to tie Jude Bellingham to new contract with release clause
According to BILD, Dortmund intends to offer Jude Bellingham a new contract which would see his salary increase by a staggering 150%, reaching a maximum of £13 million annually. The report further asserts that a £131 million release clause would be included in the midfielder’s new contract.
As a result, this would allow the 19-year-old to leave the club for prospective buyers in addition to ensuring the Bundesliga team a sizable transfer fee. The report indicates that reigning Champions League winners Real Madrid are presently the favourites to sign Bellingham. The Los Blancos are looking for a replacement for their veteran duo Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, whose contracts expire at the end of the current season.
However, if the midfield maestros sign new contracts at the Santiago Bernabeu, Dortmund’s chances of keeping Jude Bellingham will certainly improve. But the England international apparently idolises Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane, and reportedly dreams of becoming one of those ‘Galactico’s to don the famous whites of the record Champions League winners.
Meanwhile, Liverpool too have been touted as the frontrunners, given the likes of Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho all approaching the twilight of their careers, while Naby Keita and James Milner are both out of contract in the summer. Liverpool need some young legs in the middle of the park, as their results this season testify to the fact.
The Reds are sixth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have two games in hand. Klopp’s team also failed to progress in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and Champions League, despite reaching the finals of all three competitions the previous season. With the transfer window fast approaching, preparations at Merseyside for a summer overhaul too have caught pace.
Elsewhere, Manchester City might decide to rely on old connections to try and convince Jude Bellingham to sign a contract at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola’s side feels they have an upper hand over their rivals in the presence of Erling Haaland in their squad. Haaland and Bellingham were teammates during the latter’s two years in Germany, and the midfielder gave the striker seven assists, striking a brilliant chord on the pitch. City now plan to take advantage of the relationship between the two players.