Real Madrid are reportedly lining up an offer in excess of €100m (£88.5m) to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham.
The 19-year-old is expected to become one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe when the transfer window reopens in the New Year after excelling for both club and country over the last few seasons.
Bellingham opted to leave boyhood club Birmingham City in 2020 and join Dortmund where he has since elevated his game to new heights, scoring 19 goals and providing 21 assists in 112 appearances across all competitions.
The teenager also starred for England at the 2022 World Cup and netted his first senior goal in the 6-2 group-stage win over Iran.
Bellingham has a contract with BVB until June 2025, but it is thought that the German club are expecting to receive a number of offers for the midfielder's services amid interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
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Liverpool have been strongly linked with a big-money move for Bellingham in recent months, but one report states that the Reds now feel they have fallen behind Real Madrid in the race for his signature.
Los Blancos, meanwhile, are said to be confident of luring Bellingham to the Santiago Bernabeu, with Carlo Ancelotti hoping that the teenager can become the club's next Galactico signing.
According to ESPN, Real Madrid are ready to spend in excess of €100m (£88.5m) to recruit Bellingham in 2023.
The report adds that the current La Liga and Champions League holders are confident they can speed up transfer negotiations with the player, his representatives and BVB in January.
Los Blancos are said to have identified Bellingham as a priority signing and they hope the relationship between club president Florentino Perez and Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke can help finalise the deal as they bid to fend off strong competition from a number of other top European sides.
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Real Madrid are expected to recruit at least one high-profile midfielder in 2023, with 37-year-old Luka Modric and 32-year-old Toni Kroos out of contract at the end of the current campaign.
Should the Spanish giants fail in their pursuit of Bellingham, Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli has allegedly been identified as a potential alternative, while Benfica's Enzo Fernandez is also believed to be on their radar.
Bellingham is set to hold talks with Dortmund in the New Year to discuss his long-term future with the club, with the Bundesliga side still hopeful that they can keep hold of the midfielder.
The Englishman is set to join up with the rest of his Dortmund teammates for a training camp in Marbella at the beginning of January before they return to competitive action on January 22 with a league fixture against Augsburg.
Oliver Thomas
