Manchester City are increasing in confidence that the club will win the race to sign Jude Bellingham this summer.
Bellingham’s future is set to be one of the headlines of the summer transfer window as Europe’s top clubs prepare offers for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
City, Real Madrid and Liverpool have long been considered the frontrunners for Bellingham, though reports this week suggested that Liverpool are ‘increasingly unlikely’ to sign the England international.
Jurgen Klopp’s side believe City and Real Madrid are in stronger positions to sign the 19-year-old, who is valued in excess of £100m at the Bundesliga side.
The Reds face a fight to secure Champions League football this season and an absence from Europe’s top competition would be a damaging blow to the club’s hopes of a deal.
ESPN are reporting that there is a growing confidence from inside the Etihad and City have made Bellingham one of their top targets for the summer, as Pep Guardiola prepares to overhaul his midfield options.
Ilkay Gundogan is out of contract at the end of the season, while Bernardo Silva could also leave after agitating for a move away from the club in recent transfer windows. Real Madrid are understood to be considering the latter as an alternative to Bellingham.
Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in signing Bellingham and could rival their cross-town rivals in the race to sign the midfielder. However, City and Real Madrid are currently viewed as his ‘likeliest destinations’.
