Manchester City are in pole position to sign £130 million Jude Bellingham - thanks to the club’s shrewd trading in the transfer market.
While Liverpool have dropped their interest in Borussia Dortmund’s brilliant teenage midfielder after accepting they can’t afford to spend Jurgen Klopp’s summer budget on one player, the Premier League champions will be able to splash the cash after some inspired wheeling and dealing.
City have spent over £635 million on transfers over the last four seasons to recruit big-name stars like Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias and Rodri. But they have recouped almost £485 million in sales.
The club’s next transfer spend over that period works out at just over £31 million-a-year. And that has put them in a strong position to meet the demands of both Dortmund and Bellingham when the England midfielder comes on the market in the summer.
With Liverpool now out of the running and Manchester United ’s transfer plans in limbo until the ownership issue is decided, City are expected to go toe-to-toe with Real Madrid in the race for Bellingham. But the Spanish giants will have to sell first to raise the necessary finance.
Real have indicated that they may be ready to sell Aurelien Tchouameni, the French midfielder who cost them £71.5 million when he arrived from Monaco last summer. And Madrid are also undecided on whether 37-year-old playmaker Luka Modric will be offered a contract extension.
City are already primed to do business - and with Kalvin Phillips failing to have any impact following his £42 million arrival from Leeds and Ilkay Gundogan out of contract and already talking to Barcelona, they will need midfield reinforcements.
The Blues’ financial position could give them the edge in any bidding war - although they would want assurances from Bellingham that he does want to work with Pep Guardiola before making a move.
City have cashed in on internationals like Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leroy Sane, Ferran Torres and Nicolas Otamendi in recent years.
But they have also boosted the coffers by selling fringe players like Jack Harrison, Douglas Luis, Romeo Lavia, Gavin Bazunu, Brahim Dias, Angus Gunn, Jason Denayer, Angelino and Lukas Nmecha for healthy fees.
City have also been able to keep their wage bill under control after losing big earners like Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho.
According to the latest Deloitte Football Money League, both Manchester United and Liverpool pay higher wages - and Chelsea are also set to overtake them following their recent £600 million spending spree.
