Borussia Dortmund reportedly have no intention of relenting on their nine-figure demands for much-coveted midfielder Jude Bellingham.
The 19-year-old's future is dominating the talk of the transfer market, as a host of top European clubs queue up to do battle for his signature.
Dortmund still have Bellingham under contract until the summer of 2025, but the consensus is that he will say his goodbyes to Edin Terzic's squad at the end of the season.
Liverpool and Real Madrid are believed to be leading the race for the England international, and the Reds are said to be increasingly confident about bringing him to Anfield.
It has been claimed that Real may bank on Bellingham staying at Dortmund for another year before launching their assault in 2024, should Toni Kroos and Luka Modric stay on for another year.
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However, Manchester United and Manchester City are also understood to be keeping tabs on the situation, and Dortmund can likely hold out for a club-record fee to sell the teenager.
According to 90Min, BVB intend to stand firm on their €150m (£133.1m) price tag, which would surpass their current record sale of Ousmane Dembele to Barcelona for £124.3m.
The report claims that Bellingham's family and representatives remain in discussions with potential suitors, but Dortmund have not given up hope of keeping him on under certain conditions.
In order to retain Bellingham's services until 2024, Dortmund are prepared to make him their highest-paid player in history, and any new deal would also include a release clause.
Liverpool, Real Madrid and Man City supposedly all believe that talks with Bellingham's entourage have progressed nicely, with Los Blancos sending chief scout Juni Calafat to speak with his father in London on Tuesday.
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While he is yet to give a definitive answer on his future, Bellingham is set for crunch talks with Dortmund in the next few weeks, and the German giants want to know his plans by Easter.
Dortmund pipped Man United to the signature of a then-16-year-old Bellingham in 2020, and the Englishman immediately became a regular fixture for BVB despite his tender age.
From 122 appearances in a Dortmund jersey, Bellingham has produced 20 goals and 24 assists, including 10 goals and six assists in 32 matches throughout the 2022-23 campaign.
The former Birmingham City youngster has also worn the captain's armband on four occasions this season, but he was powerless to stop Dortmund being knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea in midweek.
Karim Adeyemi's strike had given the Black and Yellows a narrow advantage heading into the second leg of their last-16 tie, but Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz sealed Chelsea's place in the quarter-finals via a 2-1 aggregate win.
Ben Knapton
