Chelsea remain in contention to sign Borussia Dortmund superstar Jude Bellingham. The England international is expected to leave Germany next summer with a move to the Premier League a serious possibility.
The Blues are in need of midfield reinforcements with the futures of both N'Golo Kante and Jorginho still uncertain as they enter the final six months of their respective contracts. Bellingham is considered to be the best midfield talent in Europe and he enjoyed a stellar campaign at the World Cup for the Three Lions.
The 19-year-old's contract is set to expire in 2025 which could see Dortmund command a fee in excess of £110million for their star midfielder. Bellingham admitted that former teammate Erling Haaland continues to stay in touch with him and the talented teenager may use a similar system to the Manchester City forward to decide his next club.
READ MORE: Jude Bellingham has already given Manchester United transfer verdict amid Chelsea hope
The England international has registered 11 goal contributions in 22 appearances for Dortmund so far this season and Jurgen Klopp has discussed Bellingham's future and explained Liverpool's stance on a potential transfer for the 19-year-old. The Reds boss said: "I’m not saying anything new.
"I thought that for two or three years since he broke through at Dortmund. But I have no idea what [his World Cup performances] does for the money side of it.
"I just think that if you, from an English point of view, want to do him a favour, just don’t talk too much about money, don’t throw too many hurdles in his way. That would be really cool, wherever he ends up!
"I don’t like to always talk about money when we talk about a player like Jude. I think everybody agrees he’s just exceptional.
"I imagine somebody who has no clue about football, or who didn’t watch it for a while, if you asked them ‘how old do you think Jude Bellingham is?’ nobody would get even close! They’d say ‘28, 29’ or whatever, because he’s that mature. He played an exceptional World Cup. Exceptional.
"He’s good at so many things and has to improve in so many other things, but if I had to describe him I would say that the things he can do already are difficult to learn, and the things has has to improve are easy to learn. That makes him a really good player!"
Liverpool are thought to be confident on securing a deal for Bellingham having already put in plenty of groundwork, with the player's family said to prefer a move to Anfield ahead of other potential suitors. Chelsea may be behind the Reds in the race to sign the 19-year-old which could see them switch their focus to signing Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
Transfer insider Simon Phillips has told GiveMeSport that the Blues have already made the first move for Zubimendi ahead of the January transfer window. The report claims that the Blues have made contact with the 23-year-old's representatives with the midfielder thought to have a £56million release clause in his contract.
Zubimendi could be a smart investment at half the price of what Bellingham could cost Chelsea next summer. Graham Potter will need to add new midfielders to his squad should Kante and Jorginho both leave come the end of the season.
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