Jude Bellingham is set to dominate the headlines during next summer’s transfer window as Europe’s leading clubs look to sign the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
Bellingham has starred since signing for Dortmund in 2020, with his performances having seen the teenager become a full England international and emerge as one of world football’s brightest young talents.
There are a whole host of Premier League clubs interested in bringing Bellingham back to English football ahead of next season.
So for those of you who like to gamble online and would be interested in the latest Bet365 sports bonus code, we’ve decided to check out who the bookmakers think will win the race for Bellingham’s signature.
Arsenal – 20/1
Arsenal have been priced as 20/1 outsiders to sign Bellingham next summer as the Gunners look to continue their recent improvement under Mikel Arteta.
The north Londoners have targeted emerging talent in recent windows with Arteta receiving significant backing and there have been positive signs following a strong start to the season.
Arsenal are top of the Premier League after winning seven of their first eight games of the campaign and confidence is high that the Gunners can end a six-season exile from the Champions League.
Jude Bellingham is UNREAL ????????
(via @Bundesliga_EN)
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 23, 2021
Top-level football will be required for sides interested in Bellingham, who would represent a huge statement signing should Arsenal pull off a coup in landing the England midfielder.
Arteta is understood to be keen to strengthen his squad in central midfield after a failed deadline day bid for Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz, given a lack of depth beyond Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey and concerns over the fitness record of the latter.
Manchester United – 16/1
Manchester United are long-term admirers of Bellingham and came close to signing the midfielder before is move to Dortmund. Bellingham visited the club’s Carrington training base in 2020, where he spoke to former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, he chose a move to Dortmund as best for his development and has since been justified in the decision after racking up more than a century of appearances for the Bundesliga side.
United backed Erik ten Hag during the summer window with only Chelsea having spent more than the Red Devils’ £214.22m. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen arrived to improve the club’s midfield, but each are the wrong side of 30 and Bellingham would represent a long-term addition to build a new-look side around.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed United’s interest in Bellingham – who is expected to cost in excess of £100m – this week. Speaking on The United Stand YouTube channel, Romano said: “Manchester United will definitely try to sign Jude Bellingham next summer, and will have talks with the player’s side. However with interest from other big clubs it’s a difficult one to do.”
Chelsea – 16/1
Chelsea are also priced at odds of 16/1, with the west Londoners backed to spend big again next summer. New owner Todd Boehly wasted no time in demonstrating his willingness to splash the cash, with the club’s £272m spend during the 2022 summer transfer window an all-time record for a single club in one window.
Chelsea could face a midfield overhaul next summer, with both Jorginho and N’Golo Kante out of contract at the end of the season. Doubts also persist over the long-term futures of Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, each of who have struggled to cement regular roles in the side this season.
Bellingham would represent a statement signing from a club who are focused on the future. Wesley Fofana (21), Carney Chukwuemeka (18) and Gabriel Slonina (18) were among those to arrive during the summer with the long-term in mind.
Manchester City – 8/1
Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Jude Bellingham last month, following the midfielder’s excellent performance in Dortmund’s Champions League defeat at Manchester City.
Bellingham scored as Dortmund lost 2-1 at the Etihad and his all-action display did not go unnoticed by Guardiola.
“I was impressed two seasons ago when he was 17. Now he’s 19… he was good at 17, imagine now at 19,” Guardiola said of Bellingham. “He’s able to follow [Ilkay] Gundogan, Kevin [De Bruyne], win the duels, transitions are fast, to have the sense in the box for the goal he scored.
Jude Bellingham has been warned to stay away from Manchester City ???? pic.twitter.com/cPmWOqdcNe
— GOAL (@goal) September 28, 2022
“So yes, an exceptional player. I think everybody knows it, not because the manager of Manchester City says it, everybody knows it.”
City could seek midfield additions next summer, with Ilkay Gundogan out of contract and Bernardo Silva expected to again agitate for a move closer to his native Portugal. There has already been speculation that Erling Haaland has began the charm offensive on his former teammate.
Liverpool – 4/1
Liverpool are the 4/1 favourites to sign Bellingham and are understood to have tracked his progress for some time.
Midfield is on the agenda for Jurgen Klopp as he plots the next phase of his rebuild at the Reds, with the club’s engine room having been criticised for lacking the energy and tenacity of past campaigns.
19-year-old Jude Bellingham captains Dortmund for the first time ???? pic.twitter.com/72XrFwrX8s
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 1, 2022
Bellingham would prove an ideal fit in Klopp’s system, a midfielder capable of explosive two-way running and with the quality in the final third when bursting into advanced areas.
Klopp added Arthur Melo on loan during the summer after conceding his preferred targets were not available and Liverpool have shown previously a patience to wait for their number one targets. The Merseysiders will hope their patience is rewarded next summer as the club look to beat off competition from Europe’s top clubs for one of England’s brightest talents.
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