Erik ten Hag is determined to muscle in on Liverpool’s pursuit of Jude Bellingham, and thinks he can be the next Manchester United captain.
That’s according to a report in The Telegraph today. They claim that there is ‘genuine interest’ from United, who weren’t thought to be a serious contender for Bellingham.
But things are reportedly still ‘open’ in regards to the 19-year-old’s future. It’s claimed that Borussia Dortmund have finally become serious about naming a price-tag, and will ask a for a minimum of £110m. With the fee now known, United appear to be throwing their hat into the ring.
By now, Liverpool’s hat has already set up home and been living in the ring for several years. To that end, there’s claimed to be a ‘feeling within football’ that Bellingham would ‘favour’ a move to Anfield. However, this is said to be a position that other clubs ‘do not accept.’
As a result, United reportedly join Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid in attempting to win the race for the Borussia Dortmund man. City and Madrid in particular appear to be Liverpool’s main rivals here. Although, Ten Hag reportedly admires Bellingham to the point he believes the teenager could be a future United captain.
United looking to make a nuisance of themselves
This could be bad news for Liverpool. With United upwardly mobile once again, they’ll be even more of a danger in the transfer market.
That may extend to Bellingham, who had appeared to whittle his options down to Liverpool, City or Madrid. Despite that, United boast an equally impressive financial clout. You can never really rule them completely out of these equations. The clown show going on at the club in recent years has made life a little more difficult for them, though.
Since Ten Hag’s summer arrival, that has started to change. Now, you’d have to accept that the Red Devils are probably a more attractive destination for players than they were a year ago.
By the same token, Liverpool are surely a far less attractive option than they were a year ago.
What we’ll have to hope is that the Reds’ groundwork on Bellingham is sufficient enough to get this saga over the line. The ‘feeling within football’ that Liverpool are leading the race can’t be for nothing. There has to be something behind that line, it’s been repeated too many times for it not to be.
In the end though, only one can sign the England international. Of all the hats in the ring, Jude must now pick his favourite. Let it be the one marked in all red.