Manchester United have reportedly identified Jude Bellingham as a potential replacement for Paul Pogba, whose contract expires in the summer.
According to Jeunes Footeux, Manchester United are preparing for a future without Paul Pogba. The Red Devils are expecting the Frenchman to leave the club on a free transfer after seeing out his current deal at Old Trafford that expires at the end of the season. United have identified a host of potential replacements for Pogba and are not waiting for the midfielder to confirm his decision.
The Red Devils are already among the clubs interested in securing the services of Declan Rice, but they are set to face stiff competition from rivals Chelsea and Manchester City. As such, they have set their sights on Jude Bellingham as a potential alternative and an ideal replacement for Pogba.
A product of the Birmingham City youth academy, Bellingham was linked with a move to Old Trafford in 2020, with Sir Alex Ferguson himself giving the young midfielder a tour of the club’s facilities. However, the youngster opted to join Borussia Dortmund, and the move has turned out to be a masterstroke.
In just 18 months, Bellingham has firmly established himself as one of the best young players on the planet. He has racked up 80 competitive appearances for Dortmund, scoring ten goals while providing 16 assists. A central midfielder by trade, the youngster has made quite an impression with his technical skills, aggression and leadership qualities.
The 18-year-old’s qualities have not gone unnoticed, with Manchester United identifying him as an ideal replacement for Paul Pogba. The Red Devils have already done a lot of business with Dortmund over the past decade, most recently acquiring the services of Jadon Sancho. They are also reportedly interested in securing the services of Manuel Akanji.
United are set to face stiff competition from Real Madrid in the pursuit of Bellingham. Carlo Ancelotti is believed to be keen on landing the Englishman next summer, having been impressed by his leadership skills at such a young age.
However, it remains unlikely Bellingham will leave Dortmund anytime soon. The youngster has recently signed a contract extension until 2025, and with Erling Haaland expected to depart Signal Iduna Park in the summer, the Dortmund hierarchy will be keen on keeping hold of the midfielder.
The report mentions that BVB have set an asking price of €100 million for the England international, which is likely to be deemed as too expensive by Manchester United, thus casting doubts on the possibility of a potential move to Old Trafford next summer.
