Erik ten Hag’s priority this summer is to strengthen Manchester United’s midfield and Frenkie de Jong, the Barcelona midfielder, has been identified as his prime candidate to do just that.
In the past, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham has been heavily linked with a move to the club and he was close to joining in 2020.
Instead, he was persuaded to sign for Dortmund and his stock has risen since then. The England international is not expected to leave Dortmund this summer but he is reportedly a target for United next year.
Now, reports in Germany claim that Dortmund have made it clear that they will not let Bellingham go for cheap, with €120m needed to pry him away from the Signal Iduna Park.
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That’s according to SportBild, via the Daily Mail, who add that Dortmund are expecting offers from a number of European superclubs, including Manchester United.
Bellingham, 19, is under contract at Dortmund for another three years and they are reluctant to part ways with the former Birmingham star this year, having already lost Erling Haaland to Manchester City.
SN’s verdict…
Should United decide to revive their interest in Bellingham next year, they are unlikely to be unrivalled in their pursuit. Bellingham is one of Europe’s most coveted players and it would prove to be quite the coup for any team that is successful in snapping him up.
Ten Hag has already moved to strengthen United’s midfield this summer but with four senior players in that area leaving the club, it’s likely that the Dutchman’s surgery will stretch across several transfer windows.
United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League dented their transfer kitty this summer but they will be desperate to change that ahead of next year in order to compete with Europe’s biggest clubs.
It’s not as insulting as 120M for Rice, but close. The price of English players (Grealish at 100M, Maguire at 85M +) and now this. It would be laughable if not so pathetic.