La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid are reportedly closely monitoring the progress of 18-year-old English international Jude Bellingham.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Jude Bellingham has emerged on the radar of Real Madrid. The Merengues are tracking the 18-year-old English international’s progress at Borussia Dortmund, with the youngster on a long list of potential midfield targets.
Jude Bellingham first burst onto the limelight when he became a pivotal figure for boyhood club Birmingham City FC, aged 16. The teenage prodigy was the youngest ever player to represent the Midlands club and their youngest-ever goalscorer, which prompted high profile clubs across Europe to compete for his signature two years ago.
Borussia Dortmund eventually prevailed in the race to sign Bellingham, bringing him to the Signal Iduna Park in July 2020. Since then, the 18-year-old has gone from strength to strength at club level while also becoming a full-fledged English international.
Bellingham is enjoying a solid 2021/22 campaign despite Dortmund’s struggles, amassing six goals and 12 assists in 33 appearances across all competitions. The player’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid, setting their sights on him again.
The Spanish giants have several prodigious midfielders on their radar heading into the summer transfer window as they lay down the succession plan for their long-standing midfield trio of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro. Some of the names on Real Madrid’s comprehensive list of midfield targets include Ryan Gravenberch, Aurelien Tchouameni and Khephren Thuram.
Bellingham could be the ideal successor for Modric, with his creative outlook on the pitch also backed by a desire to score goals consistently. But the 18-year-old English international will not come cheap, with Borussia Dortmund likely to demand around €150 million to part with him.
For now, Bellingham is the latest young midfielder to emerge on Real Madrid’s radar. But with Premier League giants Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United also keen on signing him, Real Madrid will have an expensive battle on their hands to prise him away from Borussia Dortmund.