Manchester City are beginning to believe that coveted midfielder Jude Bellingham will snub them and move to Liverpool next summer.
Both clubs have been locked in a fierce battle to convince Bellingham to join them for the best part of a year now. Maybe even longer. But now, according to Sunday World Sport, City have accepted that Liverpool lead the way.
As per Sunday World journalist Kevin Palmer on Twitter, it’s claimed that ‘insiders’ at the Premier League Champions are now aware that the 19-year-old ‘favours’ a move to Anfield.
For Liverpool’s part, they are said to be ready to make Bellingham their first £100m player.
However, this reportedly isn’t a done deal just yet. Despite the Reds clear lead in the negotiations, it’s claimed that there could yet be a ‘twist’ in the saga.
Real Madrid are also still namechecked as still being in the hunt. But they too are said to be ‘aware’ that they are behind Liverpool in the queue.
Liverpool take a clear lead in Bellingham race
Plenty of journalists are going to be left very red-faced if this one doesn’t happen now!
Since the World Cup began, it has felt almost inevitable that Bellingham would be a Liverpool player. Reports such as these have only fanned those flames.
Now that England and Bellingham are out of the tournament, it appears that things may start to move a little quicker.
It has previously been ruled out that Borussia Dortmund would sell the youngster in the January window. But that doesn’t mean that Liverpool can’t wrap up a deal for next summer as soon as possible.
Bellingham’s performances for the Three Lions were brilliant in Qatar. Former Reds striker Daniel Sturridge called him ‘sensational’ on Instagram during the tournament, and he really was.
As a result, the race to snap him up could become very messy, and very expensive, indeed. However, it looks as though Liverpool may have been able to head off that type of situation. Establishing what looks to be a clear lead for Bellingham, it appears that it’s the Reds’ race to lose right now.
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