Chelsea are ready to give everything they’ve got in an attempt to land Liverpool target Jude Bellingham this summer.
Bellingham looks set to leave Borussia Dortmund and has long been seen as the Reds top transfer target. But now, according to The Telegraph, Chelsea are preparing an audacious bid to convince Bellingham to join them instead.
To that end, it’s claimed that co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are ready to ‘move heaven and earth’ to bring the 19-year-old to Stamford Bridge.
However, there is said to be a ‘recognition’ that they aren’t favourites to sign Bellingham. Instead, Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are all said to be ‘better placed.’
Despite this, Chelsea are still reportedly set to install the England star as their top midfield target for the summer. They’re also claimed to be considering moves for other reported Liverpool targets Moises Caciedo and Declan Rice.
The Telegraph also report that Dortmund haven’t given up all hope of keeping Bellingham for themselves. They cite Liverpool’s current struggles and City’s potential sanctions as reasons for optimism.
Chelsea trying to achieve the impossible – again
At some point, Chelsea are simply going to have to accept defeat in the race for Bellingham. Having already spent a mind-boggling amount, there’s surely no way they can stump up another £100m+ for Jude.
If they do, then quite simply there’ll be a riot. Owners of other clubs are unlikely to stand by and watch the West London club sweep up in the transfer market.
Luckily, it seems that Chelsea’s lust to sign Bellingham only goes one way. If other reports are to be believed, the teenager has already ruled Graham Potter’s side out of the running this summer.
Boehly and Eghbali have already shown that they won’t take no for an answer, though. There should be a slight worry from Liverpool, and indeed City that they will simply push and push and push.
Should they end up making the impossible happen, they’ll have quite the midfield duo. At one stage it looked as though Liverpool could have a midfield of Enzo Fernandez and the ‘unbelievable’ Bellingham next season. If Chelsea pull that off, it’ll be something to fear for every team in Europe.
Of course, no one can fully know where Jude’s mind is at as he counts down to his big move this summer. As he prepares to face Chelsea tonight with Dortmund, no doubt the Premier League club will be trying to cosy up to his dad, Mark. Hopefully Bellingham senior tells them exactly where to go.