Real Madrid News
Real Madrid intensifying talks for Bellingham, transfer could cost around €100-140m
Jude Bellingham is one of the top names on the transfer wishlist of Real Madrid heading into the summer window. The 19-year-old has become one of the most in-demand commodities in the European transfer market after a sensational run of displays with Borussia Dortmund and England.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, among several others, are also interested in signing Bellingham in the upcoming summer transfer window.
But, according to fresh reports from SPORT1 in Germany, Real Madrid have intensified talks for the former Birmingham City midfield prodigy as they look to beat the competition for his signing.
The report highlights that Dortmund are also set to hold discussions with Bellingham’s entourage during the upcoming international break to assess what his intentions are regarding his future.
At the same time, Real Madrid, too, are upping the ante in their pursuit of the teenage sensation.
First contacts made, operation could cost €100-140m
Indeed, according to a report from AS, Real Madrid have made the first formal contacts to begin the process for the signing of Bellingham.
It is claimed that the Merengues see the 19-year-old as the ideal fit into the team as they look to continue revamping their midfield which began with the signings of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
To that end, a club representative recently flew to Germany to meet with Bellingham and his family. The objective of the meeting was to get to know the youngster first-hand while also transmitting to him the plans of the club and convincing him that Real Madrid is the best option for him.
It was also the intention of the Spanish giants to remove any doubts that the midfielder would have had regarding a possible move in the summer.
But, signing him will be anything but straightforward as Liverpool are going hard for his transfer as well. Indeed, While Los Blancos are intensifying their efforts to sign Bellingham, SPORT1 states that Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side remain the favourites to sign the England international at this point.
AS adds that the transfer operation to sign Bellingham could cost between €100-140 million, with both clubs willing to pay the piper for the 19-year-old superstar.
It is astounding that despite being the biggest club in Spain, Real Madrid do not have many Spanish players to show for it.
Los Blancos do indeed boast of a special diversity in the dressing room, but their lack of locally trained players could pose problems according to MARCA.
The Spanish outlet confirms that UEFA does not mandate the inclusion of any minimum number of locally grown players for a club. However, the Spanish federation stipulates that a club in Spain must boast of at least eight players who meet a specific set of conditions.
Of the aforementioned eight candidates, there must be at least four players who have spent three seasons or 36 months at the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
Currently, only Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Mariano make up the required number on that front.
The problem, however, arises with the condition for the other four players in the list of eight. RFEF stipulates that the second set of four players must have completed at least 36 months in teams attached to the federation of Spain between the ages of 15 and 21.
Only Jesus Vallejo, Alvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos tick the aforementioned box. However, all four players have uncertain futures at the club and are well-placed to depart in the summer.
There are thus big decisions to be taken over the transfer strategy for June. Real Madrid can work ways to ship all four players out, it would require the re-integration of players like Sergio Arribas, Miguel Gutierrez or Fran Garcia to ensure the fulfilment of the criteria.
With both Vallejo and Odriozola seemingly frozen out of Ancelotti’s plans, their departures from Santiago Bernabeu appear inevitable. Thus, the management could be forced to renew one of Asensio or Ceballos come June.
