Manchester City have edged ahead of Real Madrid in the race to sign Jude Bellingham this summer.
City have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Bellingham after Liverpool cooled their interest in the Borussia Dortmund teenager, with the Reds having deemed the financial package required too expensive given the need for multiple signings in a rebuild at Anfield.
City now look set to compete with Real Madrid to sign the 19-year-old and ESPN are reporting that the Premier League champions are ‘growing increasingly confident’ that they can win the race.
Pep Guardiola wants to add at least one new midfielder to his options this summer, with Ilkay Gundogan expected to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires and doubts over the future of Bernardo Silva.
City have a good working relationship with Dortmund after deals to sign Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji from the German side last summer, with negotiations expected to surround a deal worth around £130m.
Dortmund have not given up hope of persuading Bellingham to remain at the Westfalenstadion for a further season, but a record-breaking offer would be difficult to turn down.
Manchester United and Chelsea have also been linked with signing Bellingham, though the primary focus for each is to sign a centre-forward this summer.
