Chelsea have been told a staggering asking price by Borussia Dortmund for English starlet Jude Bellingam, according to reports
The 19-year-old is coming off the back of a delightful season in Germany, finishing the year with six goals and 14 assists to his name.
He was a key component in helping his side achieve second place in the Bundesliga, leaving them just eight points shy of eventual champions Bayern Munich.
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The central-midfielder has already established himself as one of Europe’s leading players, with him holding a vital role for both his club and country.
The level he is playing at has seen multiple clubs turn their attention towards him and Dortmund look set to have a wave of bids coming at them next summer.
Chelsea will likely face competition when bidding from Liverpool, who are leading the race for the midfielder and Real Madrid as well.
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With Bellingham’s contract not running out until 2025 at Dortmund, the German side are in a powerful position.
This has enabled them to raise the price tag they have set.
As reported by German source SportBild, it is claimed that Dortmund will now only be open to offers of £103 million or more.
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With three clubs hunting for his signature, this price could easily rise further, which could potentially see him become one of the most expensive players of all time.
Dortmund will be hopeful of a bidding war between the clubs if they are forced to offload the young sensation.
Bellingham would provide a huge boost to any midfield, and with the amount of potential he has, it is no surprise to see the price tag set this high.
Despite Chelsea showing interest in the player, this fee may warn them off, leaving them to look at other options.
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Instead of waiting till next summer to battle for the signature of Bellingham, they may turn their heads towards making a move now for someone else.
West Ham United’s Declan Rice has been the prime candidate for a long time, but it was reported yesterday Chelsea have been ‘offered the chance’ to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The priority this summer though, has been made clear for the Blues already.
The defence and attack are what needs the most work, and it is to be expected that these areas to be attended to first, opposed to chasing after a new midfielder.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Borussia Dortmund, Jude Bellingham, Transfers, Liverpool, Football