Borussia Dortmund could offer Jude Bellingham a massive £250,000-a-week contract in an attempt to keep the England international out the clutches of Premier League giants Liverpool or Manchester City.
BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl is making no secret of his desire to retain Bellingham for at least one more season. And the Bundesliga leaders, it seems, are willing to put their money where their mouth is.
According to BILD, via BuliNews, if Bellingham opts to stuck around until the summer of 2024, he could be rewarded with a new 15 million euro-a-season contract. One that translates to around £250,000-a-week.
Dortmund, who will take on former boss Thomas Tuchel in Der Klassiker following the March international break, also hope to include a staggering £130 million release clause in Bellingham’s deal.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Man United like Jude Bellingham
“Jude feels very, very comfortable at Borussia Dortmund,” Kehl told BILD back in February. “We need Jude to achieve our goals this season. We’re glad he is focused so much on football and has no other issues on his mind at the moment.
“Jude still has two years of contract and is a very important part of this team. That’s why I naturally wish that he would play for BVB longer.”
According to The Athletic, doubts are growing about Liverpool’s ability to finance a deal for the Birmingham-born 19-year-old. Especially with more-deep pocketed clubs such as Manchester City, Real Madrid and a potentially Qatari-backed Man United likely to spark a considerable bidding war for football’s most coveted midfielder.
If Bellingham was to put pen to paper on a new deal, complete with a £130 million release clause, that could turn Liverpool’s ‘Mission Improbable’ into ‘Mission Impossible’.
‘£100 million-plus’
“He’s that good this boy,” former Chelsea, Aston Villa and Ireland defender Andy Townsend tells talkSPORT.
“What a fantastic position to be in. Very few players are in that wonderful position where they can choose where they want to go.
“If Real Madrid come knocking, it is just the most exciting club by none,” Townsend adds. “The draw of that club might be too good for him to refuse. However, he is still going to have Manchester City, Liverpool and others who are going to be in for him. It is a fantastic position to be in.
“He is (worth) £100 million plus. He is a brilliant player; up and down, a bit old school. I really like him and I think, if I was him, I would go to Real Madrid.”
Bellingham has 10 goals and six assists in all competitions for Edin Terzic’s side this season. He was arguably England’s stand-out player at the Qatar World Cup too; the teenager now one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions’ team sheet.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
