Real Madrid close in on deal for Jude Bellingham, say reports
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Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham has also drawn interest from Manchester City.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MADRID – Real Madrid are closing in on Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, with reports in Spain on Wednesday saying a deal will soon be reached.
The England international, 19, is one of the brightest prospects in world football and is poised to move for over €100 million (S$146.8 million), with Dortmund reportedly wanting considerably more.
Bellingham excelled at the World Cup in 2022 and has also drawn interest from Real’s Champions League semi-final opponents Manchester City, while Liverpool ended their pursuit due to budget constraints.
The midfielder signed for Dortmund at 17 from Championship team Birmingham City for €29 million and has become a key player for the German side.
Spanish newspaper Marca reported that any deal between Real and Dortmund will not be announced until the end of the Bundesliga season, with Bellingham’s side a point behind leaders Bayern Munich in the title race.
Real are looking to find long-term replacements for their veteran players, including midfielders Luka Modric, 37, and Toni Kroos, 33.
Los Blancos brought in young French duo Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni over the past two summer transfer windows and sold holding midfielder Casemiro to Manchester United.
Bellingham has scored 21 goals for Dortmund in 130 appearances across all competitions since arriving in 2020.
In other transfer news, Saudi Arabia is preparing to offer Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi a US$400 million (S$531.4 million) annual contract to play in the Saudi Pro League this summer, reportedly with Al Hilal, the Telegraph reported.
The deal, which is being negotiated by Messi’s father, would far exceed the over US$200 million package Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to play for Al Nassr until the summer of 2025.
The Argentinian World Cup champion was suspended on Tuesday by PSG for two weeks after travelling to Saudi Arabia on holiday without permission from the club.
Messi had previously agreed to a deal in principle to stay with PSG, but following the disciplinary action, he will not renew his contract, BBC reported.
The potential signing would be the latest move by Saudi Arabia to upend the world of professional sports. In addition to the recent signing of Ronaldo, the country has financed the breakaway LIV Golf tour and its sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), purchased Premier League club Newcastle United.
PIF also mulled over adding Formula One to its sports investments, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News in January. AFP, BLOOMBERG
