Man City ‘definitely in running’ to sign £131m star at the Etihad

Manchester City “will definitely be in the running” to sign Borussia Dortmund and England international Jude Bellingham, journalist Pete O’Rourke has told GiveMeSport.

The midfielder has been at the World Cup with Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad this winter, before being knocked out in the quarter-finals at the hands of France.

Man City transfer news – Jude Bellingham

In what could come as a boost to Manchester City, fellow Premier League side Liverpool are set to give up on their pursuit of Bellingham as per Marca, with the Reds looking at a £77m deal with Benfica and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández instead.

The Athletic has previously suggested that the Citizens are one of the sides interested in striking a deal for the 19-year-old midfielder ahead of a potential move next summer, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid also contemplating in a move for the young talent.

The same media outlet has suggested that Dortmund value the former Birmingham City man at around £131m, with the Three Lions star still having two-and-a-half years left to run on his £49k-per-week contract come January.

It is not thought that the Premier League champions would be interested in selling one of their main assets to sign the Bundesliga star next summer, with transfer insider Dean Jones previously telling GiveMeSport that the club will not entertain the prospect of letting £100m signing Jack Grealish leave the Etihad Stadium.

And O’Rourke believes that City are always likely to be in the market for “top players” and will entertain a move for Bellingham.

What has O’Rourke said about Man City and Bellingham?

O’Rourke told GiveMeSport: “Manchester City are always going to be in the market for top players around the world and Jude Bellingham right now is in that bracket.

“Pep Guardiola has previously admitted he’s a huge fan of Bellingham, so I’m sure Manchester City with the finances and the project that they can offer to players, will definitely be in the running for Jude Bellingham.”

How did Bellingham perform at the World Cup?

Dortmund will have been delighted at the quality of Bellingham’s performances for England at the World Cup, with his showings in Qatar likely to rocket his value up further.

The midfielder started all five of Southgate’s side’s matches at the tournament, scoring his first international goal in a 6-2 demolition of Iran, whilst also providing an assist for Jordan Henderson in the Three Lions’ 3-0 victory over Senegal in the last 16.

The Stourbridge-born star was given a WhoScored rating of 7.58 for his showings in Qatar, ranking him as England’s second-best performing player at the tournament behind Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.

With such an impressive showing on the world’s biggest stage behind him, Bellingham may be anticipating a move to the Premier League next summer, and Guardiola will certainly be hoping that a move to the Etihad Stadium entices England’s brightest prospect.

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