Manchester City are confident they have a game-changing advantage over Liverpool and Real Madrid in the hotly-contested race to sign Jude Bellingham.
Etihad Stadium chiefs reportedly believe the Borussia Dortmund sensation, 19, will turn down the chance to join their European rivals because he will be desperate to work with Pep Guardiola. City, Los Blancos and the Reds are regarded as the three clubs pushing hardest to sign Bellingham next summer, when there is expected to be a scramble for his services.
Liverpool are long-term admirers of the former Birmingham City prodigy while Real Madrid also view their hand in the transfer race as a strong one. However, Manchester City remain optimistic that they are the front runners to sign Bellingham thanks to the influence of Guardiola.
That is according to The Sun, which claims the Sky Blues view the prospect of working alongside one of the greatest managers of all time as something which could convince Bellingham to move to Manchester. The teenager moving to City would be a critical blow for Liverpool, who have shaped their long-term midfield vision around him.
It would also be a disappointing outcome for Real Madrid, although they have already signed two of the hottest midfield prospects in Europe in recent transfer windows, namely Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni. The clubs who covet Bellingham are not limited to City, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The report adds Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are also keeping tabs on the situation surrounding the player, who was one of the brightest young talents at the World Cup in Qatar. Bellingham is under contract until the summer of 2025 and Dortmund will be loath to let him depart in the January transfer window.
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However, they may choose next summer as the right time to cash in on one of their prized assets, who is sure to command a nine-figure price tag. Bellingham is believed to be valued at £120million by his club, which would represent a club-record fee for the likes of City and Liverpool.
The Reds still harbour strong hopes of signing the youngster next summer and were buoyed during the World Cup at the sight of him hanging out with Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Personal relationships and the manager Bellingham will work with are sure to play key roles in determining where he moves to next.
The financial package on offer will also be of vital importance. City and Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid boast vast riches and would likely be able to offer Bellingham a higher salary than Jurgen Klopp's Reds, who stick to a strict wage structure that dictates their signings and contract extensions.
