Premier League giants Liverpool have been given a boost in their pursuit of Jude Bellingham with Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn ruling out a move for the Borussia Dortmund talisman, speaking to Sport BILD.
At the age of just 19, the former Birmingham City wonderkid is edging dangerously close to becoming the complete midfielder.
Bellingham already had plenty of strings to his bow. But the England international appears to have discovered a scoring streak this season too; taking his tally to four in just 12 games while waltzing through the Sevilla backline before finishing in style during Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League obliteration.
He’s now two away from matching his tally from the whole of 2021/22.
“This guy is an absolute superstar, he really is,” Arsenal legend Thierry Henry declared on BT Sport, with some justification.
Liverpool’s interest in Bellingham is well-known. With the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United also very much in the race, the battle for arguably Europe’s most sought-after signature is only just beginning.
One club already laying down their arms, however, is Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich rule out Borussia Dortmund raid for Jude Bellingham
“Of course, I think Bellingham is an outstanding player,” says Bayern CEO and former goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
“With (Joshua) Kimmich, (Leon) Goretzka, (Marcel) Sabitzer and (Ryan) Gravenberch, however, we are very well equipped in that position. So we’re not thinking about that at all.”
Of course, Kahn’s reasoning will not distract from the fact that, even if Bayern did want Bellingham, they probably couldn’t afford him anyway. Dortmund are likely to demand a fee in and around the £100 million mark.
The German giants ruled themselves out of the race for another BVB graduate in Erling Haaland last year; the financial package required to sign the Manchester City goal-machine simply too rich for Bayern’s blood. And Bellingham will cost even more, at least in terms of the transfer fee.
“(Bellingham) would be a hell of a signing,” says former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy.
“It would change the dynamic of the midfield. In terms of that he’s an attacking, goalscoring midfielder. He’s a super player. Some of the attributes he’s got for such a young man…”
Bellingham captained Dortmund in Seville, despite only turning 19 a couple of months ago.
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