Arsenal and Chelsea have been given the clearest indication yet that a move for Jude Bellingham will be possible over the summer. The 19-year-old is set to be at the centre of one of the biggest transfer battles in recent memory with Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid all keen to sign the England star.
Having shone at the World Cup, Bellingham's stocks continue to rise ahead of an expected mass bidding war. Both the Blues and the Gunners are looking to bring in a new midfielder and see Bellingham as the crowning jewel.
Declan Rice is also being considered by the two London sides ahead of the summer, with West Ham accepting their fate that the defensive midfielder will leave this year. Bellingham is the all-encompassing box-to-box presence that every club is hopeful of attracting, though.
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Although he still has two-and-a-half years left on his deal the pressure and interest from some of the top clubs in the world could be telling, with offers expected to go beyond £100m for the player. Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic has urged his man to be different to previous stars at the club though.
“I believe that we need to work on keeping these young guys one year longer,” he told The Athletic. “In my first season [as interim manager], I was able to put Jadon [Sancho], Jude and Erling [Haaland] on the pitch, but that was their only year together.
“That was also partly due to COVID-19 and empty stadiums, there were financial considerations. But if we can get to the point where it’s two or three years of such a trio, maybe we can break the mould.”
Their financial resolve is going to be truly tested in 2023 and Bellingham's personal choice will also have a large say in what happens. The latest indication that he will be on the move has come though, with the Daily Star reporting that he is set to turn down a contract extension at the club.
It's said that Bellingham is being offered double his current wages in a package worth up to £180,000 per week in order to remain in Germany but that the Bundesliga outfit have accepted it will be tough to keep him.
Chelsea and Arsenal will now be trying their best to get into a position whereby their proposal to Bellingham is the best and most attractive.
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