La Liga champions Real Madrid reportedly lead the race to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, a target for Liverpool.
According to a report by Spanish outlet MARCA, Jude Bellingham is closer to joining Real Madrid than Liverpool. The English international will likely leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window, with the German giants potentially demanding over €100 million for him.
Jude Bellingham has become one of the best midfielders in the world in the last couple of years despite still being in his teens. The 19-year-old has been a pivotal figure for Borussia Dortmund since arriving from Birmingham FC, where he had already broken records. And he has also been a star performer for the English national side.
The teenage prodigy is enjoying a superb 2022/23 season, amassing nine goals and three assists in 22 appearances thus far. And Bellingham will likely leave Borussia Dortmund for a bigger club in the summer transfer window. Real Madrid and Liverpool are two of his prospective suitors.
Real Madrid will aim to begin the succession plan for Luka Modric and Toni Kroos next year. With the ageing midfield stalwarts in the final phase of their respective careers, the Merengues need to identify their long-term replacements. Bellingham has thus emerged as a viable target for Real Madrid.
Recent reports have claimed that the reigning La Liga champions are confident of signing the 19-year-old. And the report from MARCA points to Real Madrid being in the pole position to land the English international. But Liverpool will likely have something to say about Real Madrid’s position as the leader of the chasing pack.
Widespread reports have suggested that the Reds are optimistic about securing his services. And Liverpool will need someone like Bellingham to galvanise an ageing and underperforming midfield unit. Some outlets had even suggested that Liverpool had submitted an offer to sign the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
But with Real Madrid leading the race to land the teenage prodigy, it will be interesting to see if Liverpool can usurp Los Blancos. For now, the Spanish champions are the front-runners to prise the Englishman from Borussia Dortmund next year.
