Chelsea are reportedly planning to steal a march on Manchester United in pursuit of Jude Bellingham, who has a £30 million price tag.
According to a report by Daily Mail, Manchester United are set to face stiff competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea in the race to sign Jude Bellingham in the summer transfer window. The Blues have, in fact, held talks with the representatives of the 16-year-old, who is valued at £30 million by Birmingham City.
Jude Bellingham has become one of the most coveted youngsters across Europe on the back of a stunning breakthrough season this term. Such has been the teenage prodigy’s impact at that he has already established himself as a mainstay in midfield at Birmingham City, despite being just 16 years of age.
Having missed just six games for the Midlands club this season, Bellingham has made 35 appearances across all competitions, chipping in with four goals and three assists. His advent this season has piqued the interest of a number of top clubs, with Chelsea and Manchester United now believed to be vying for his signature.
At Chelsea, Frank Lampard has a plethora of midfielders at his disposal, with Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante and Jorginho being the regulars. Young Billy Gimour has also impressed this season when given a chance by Lampard and in such a scenario, it will be interesting to see how Bellingham will fit in the long-term plans.
Manchester United, on the other hand, are set to enter the market for a midfielder this summer, with Paul Pogba’s future shrouded under a cloud of uncertainty. In fact, Manchester United were even linked with a January move for Bellingham, who has been their radar for quite some time, but a move failed to materialise.
Borussia Dortmund were also briefly linked with a move for Bellingham, although the German outfit are believed to have pulled out of the race to sign the 16-year-old. Manchester United, though, need to remain on their toes, with Chelsea looking to hijack the Red Devils’ pursuit of the prodigious youngster.
In fact, the report claims that Chelsea held talks with the player’s representatives before the coronavirus outbreak suspended all footballing activities. While uncertainty continues to mount over the financial prospects of all clubs and the future of the current season, the Blues seem to have taken a lead in the race to sign Bellingham.
Meanwhile, Daily Mirror suggest that Bellingham is priced at £30 million, which is not too steep for a player rated so highly. However, it remains to be seen if Manchester United can leapfrog Chelsea in the race to sign the English midfielder, or if the young prospect makes his way to Stamford Bridge instead.
