Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted he will not be able to compete if any big clubs make a push to sign Jude Bellingham next summer.
Bellingham has developed into of one the best midfielders in Europe since first breaking through at Birmingham City. It is a Dortmund where he has really impressed, claiming an England starting spot and helping the German side to win the DFB-Pokal.
Unfortunately for Dortmund, it appears increasingly likely that he will be on the move next summer. Liverpool and Real Madrid are among the clubs interested in signing him, though Dortmund are in a strong negotiating position with more than two years remaining on his contract.
Watzke has now also revealed that Dortmund will open talks with Bellingham over potentially extending his deal. But he has admitted that the Bundesliga team will not be able to offer him wages anywhere close to what some of his suitors are prepared to pay.
“I think as soon as Qatar is over. We will have a general discussion about what he actually wants. With him, with his parents, with whom we have a very close relationship," Watzke told BILD.
"And of course with his advisor. And then he should just tell us whether he wants to stay or whether he wants to leave. In both cases, we will have a very pleasant and reasonable discussion with each other.
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"But we don’t have to pretend that the issue is not on the table. If the really big clubs are involved, then we can’t afford to have a fight financially.”
Bellingham ended the first half of his season by laying on an assist as Dortmund lost 4-2 to Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday. He will now travel to Qatar to feature in the World Cup for England.
The Three Lions' record goalscorer Wayne Rooney believes he will be a key man for Gareth Southgate's men. And he has also urged Manchester United to make a move for the 18-year-old.
“I played against Bellingham when he was at Birmingham and I was at Derby. And he actually man-marked me during the game, I think he was about 16, maybe just 17, and what I really liked about him is every time I passed the ball off, he’d leave a stud in on me," Rooney told talkSPORT.
"And I remember thinking, ‘he’s got something about him’, and just to show the character to go out to Germany and take that league by storm. That mentality to perform, obviously he’s been captain in quite a few of the games as well.
"He’s going to be a huge player for England. Just that mentality, even though he’s young, he can put some of that character into some of the rest of the squad in my eyes. I hope he doesn’t go to Liverpool or [Manchester] City!
“But I’m sure they’re doing their work, he’s probably the hottest youngster in world football at the minute. I’m sure United are looking at that as well, I know they tried to get him a couple of years ago, so I’d hope so. He’s a player that United could really do with at the minute.”
