Real Madrid eye Jude Bellingham for 2023

Liverpool are set for a transfer war with a transfer market giant after reports emerged that Real Madrid have earmarked Jude Bellingham as a transfer target for 2023.

Reports emerged earlier of Liverpool looking to sign the 18-year-old ahead of the 2023/24 season as their transfer business for the summer looks to have been wrapped up. Bellingham has been touted with a return to the Premier League since he moved to Germany to play for Borussia Dortmund in 2020 but he has committed his immediate future to the club.

He is being targeted by Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United but Liverpool look the likeliest to land him with some reports claiming that the Reds have established contact with the former Birmingham City midfielder.

Now, Spanish outlet AS is reporting that Real Madrid want the English youngster and will move for him in the same window as Liverpool.

Los Blancos have spent €100 million to acquire Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco, settling their midfield succession plans effectively. This interest in Bellingham seems to come out of nowhere, but Madrid are known for liking shiny things which could explain the links.

AS claims that the Spanish giants want to make Bellingham the third midfielder in their new trio and move Federico Valverde up front. This would see the Englishman play alongside Eduardo Camavinga and Tchouameni. They also claimed that they held off on making a move for the midfielder this summer because they want to build their new-look midfield step by step.

Camavinga was signed in the summer of 2021 and was eased into the Madrid game. Tchouameni followed in the summer of 2022 and, like his compatriot, will be eased into the Madrid game. Bellingham is reportedly the final piece of the puzzle which puts Liverpool’s hopes of signing him in jeopardy if the reports are true.

It is understood that Bellingham would likely cost around €100 million but the report claims that the Spanish giants may opt to try an initial bid of €90 million for the 18-year-old midfielder, who will be 19 when they are ready to approach Borussia Dortmund for his signature.

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