The Hard Tackle lists three potential alternatives for Real Madrid if they fail to sign 19-year-old midfield sensation Jude Bellingham.
Jude Bellingham is one of the most sought-after players in world football at this point in time. The 19-year-old midfielder is on the radar of many big clubs across Europe. Real Madrid have their eyes set on Bellingham. But if they fail to land him in the summer, they will have to look for alternatives. The Hard Tackle has prepared a list of three alternatives that Los Blancos can pursue if they fail to get the signature of Bellingham.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has been on the radars of Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City for a while. All the clubs are willing to break the bank for his signature, but it is not going to be easy.
Bellingham’s contract at Dortmund ends in the summer of 2025. While there might be a few years left, the player is eager to join a bigger club. And, some of the biggest teams across Europe are ready to pay big bucks to price him away from the German club.
BVB director Kehl on Jude Bellingham deal: “No new development has taken place. We will have to be patient a little longer”, tells @RNBVB. 🚨🟡 #BVB
“Of course we'll try to keep Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund as long as possible because he's an incredibly important player”. pic.twitter.com/Sc6PxQEC5O
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 13, 2023
Liverpool are going through a rough time, and a lot of it is down to an unsettled midfield. Jurgen Klopp will enter the next transfer winter in search of a central midfielder who can transform his team. Bellingham is the best possible option to change things around, and the Merseyside club are willing to spend big for his services.
As far as Manchester City are concerned, they do not really need to spend a fortune on another midfielder. But, that is what they do, buy the best possible players and keep adding new talent to continue their dominance. And the money side of things is not really a problem for City.
When we look at Chelsea, they are just one midfielder away from completing a midfield overhaul. Bellingham will slot in directly into Graham Potter’s XI and make them a force to reckon with. Their interest in the Dortmund star is understandable.
Real Madrid are not the only team willing to spend big on the 19-year-old midfielder. And as a result, there is a chance they miss out on landing one of their biggest transfer targets. With that in mind, here is a list of three midfielders they can keep an eye on in case they miss out on the England international.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic can be a great alternative for Jude Bellingham. The 27-year-old is among the best midfielders in Serie A. He has been a part of Lazio for almost eight years now and has established himself as a pivotal figure.
Milinkovic-Savic is a box-to-box midfielder and has a lot of attributes in common with Bellingham. Both of them are at their best when they get forward. The Lazio midfielder can create as well as score goals. He is technically second to none and is calm and composed when the ball is at his feet. The 27-year-old prefers taking risks and as a result, does not really have that great a passing rate.
He can be a great alternative to Bellingham, and the Serb will bring the majority of the qualities that the England international would have. With Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in the twilight of their careers, signing a midfielder in the summer is a must. If Los Blancos fail to land Bellingham, Milinkovic-Savic looks like a great option to push for. But Arsenal are also interested in him.
Meanwhile, according to widespread reports, the player is open to moving to Real Madrid in the summer transfer window. His market value of €60 million means he will be a lot cheaper than Bellingham.
Youri Tielemans
Youri Tielemans’s contract at Leicester City ends in the summer of 2023. The player is unlikely to sign a contract extension and is likely to be available for free in five months’ time. The 25-year-old central midfielder is looking for a move to a Champions League club ahead of next season. And, Real Madrid have shown their interest in bringing him to the club of late.
Tielemans is another great alternative for Bellingham. And, it is not because he will be a free agent. Rather, it is because of his abilities on the pitch. While he might be playing alongside Wilfred Ndidi as a holding midfielder for the Foxes, the Belgian international has shown that he is a natural playmaker.
He is a player who loves to take the ball forward and look for passes that can open up the opposition’s defense and is great with the ball at his feet. Tielemans has the qualities to settle in at Real Madrid and play as a central midfielder.
If Perez fails to sign Jude Bellingham in the summer, Tielemans can be a great alternative for Los Blancos. But like Milinkovic-Savic, the Belgian international is a top target for several clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and a few others.
Nicolo Fagioli
Nicolo Fagioli, what a talent. 🌟🔥@17Reazypic.twitter.com/cwbOK9RJ9j
— Max Statman (@emaxstatman) February 12, 2023
A wildcard option for Real Madrid if they miss out on Jude Bellingham. There have been no talks about Los Blancos being interested in his services. But with Juventus in crisis, if they opt to sell, Real Madrid can surely jump into the race.
Fagioli joined Juventus back in July 2015 when he was 14 years old. He has gone up the ranks at the Allianz Stadium. The 22-year-old was on loan at Cremonese last season. That was a move that gave him the opportunity to showcase his talent to the world.
The Juventus midfielder is a creative midfielder whose game revolves around technique, elegance, and agility. He is an attacking midfielder who loves to get higher up the pitch. Of late, Juventus have tried to play him as a deep-lying playmaker, and he has shown that he can take up that role.
The 22-year-old has it in him to become a modern-day great. His skill-set is similar to a young Toni Kroos, and he can surely be a great asset for Los Blancos. But, Florentino Perez will have to fight it out with rivals Barcelona, who have their eyes on the young sensation.
Juventus have no intention of selling him. But, they might not be left with many options if more sanctions are imposed on them. They have already lost 15 points in the ongoing season due to alleged financial irregularities and false accounting in their transfer dealings. Things can get worse, and they might be forced to sell their young stars which can open up a path for the Spanish giants to enter the race.
The priority for Los Blancos will be to get the signature of 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham. But, if in case they fail to land the star in the summer, they do have a few alternatives that can solve their midfielder issues.
