Real Madrid have reportedly accepted that Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham will likely end up in the Premier League this summer.
The 19-year-old's future is set to dominate the talk of the transfer market at the end of the season, when he is expected to wave his goodbyes to BVB.
Bellingham remains under contract at the Westfalenstadion until the summer of 2025, and Dortmund have supposedly not given up hope of tying him down to a bumper new deal.
However, the consensus is that the former Birmingham City youngster will advance his career elsewhere, and a host of top European clubs are queuing up to entice him away from Germany.
Liverpool and Real Madrid have long been considered the front-runners to sign Bellingham, while Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle United have also been lurking in the background.
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Real are understood to have made Bellingham their top summer target as they plan for life without Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, but Los Blancos are supposedly pessimistic about a deal materialising.
According to The Athletic, the La Liga and Champions League holders believe that Bellingham will return to his homeland, given the "financial muscle" that Premier League clubs possess.
The report adds that Real's pursuit of Bellingham will not be affected, as they have been working to bring him to the Spanish capital for several months, but they have conceded that teams in England can offer the teenager a more lucrative salary and pay Dortmund a higher transfer fee.
If the England international was to end up in Madrid, he would supposedly have to make it clear that the Bernabeu is the only option he is after, much like Aurelien Tchouameni during his summer move from Monaco.
However, Dortmund are also said to believe that Premier League clubs have the best chance of striking a deal for Bellingham, and Real Madrid are yet to come forward with an official offer.
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Going from strength to strength in a Dortmund shirt since leaving Birmingham City in 2020, Bellingham has struck 20 goals and set up 23 more in 115 games for the Black and Yellows in all tournaments.
The teenager has 10 goals and five assists to his name from 25 outings in all competitions this season, and he has already won one DFB-Pokal title with Edin Terzic's side.
While Liverpool are fighting tooth and nail to bring in Bellingham, the Reds are at risk of missing out on European competition altogether next season amid a dismal spell of Premier League form.
Jurgen Klopp's side have gone four top-flight games without a win in 2023 after suffering a humbling 3-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, leaving them 10th in the table and 11 points adrift of the Champions League spots.
Meanwhile, reigning champions Man City have been charged with over 100 alleged financial breaches by the Premier League, which could lead to financial and/or sporting sanctions if found guilty.
Ben Knapton
