Real Madrid News
Real Madrid leading race for €150 million midfielder after February meeting with entourage
Jude Bellingham continues to be one of the most sought-after players in the transfer market ahead of the summer window. Clubs like Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are all gunning for the Borussia Dortmund man’s signing.
The 19-year-old has firmly established himself as one of the best young midfielders in the game thanks to his performances for Dortmund and the England national team.
Real Madrid, who are set to undergo a transition from their old guard to the new faces in midfield, have made Bellingham their priority target ahead of the summer.
However, interest from Manchester City and Liverpool threatened to derail their pursuit of the England international, with reports suggesting that the teenager preferred a return to his homeland rather than a move to Spain.
But, according to the latest report from BILD, Real Madrid are now leading the race to sign Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.
It is claimed that Los Blancos met with the midfielder’s father, Mark, in February, which has seemingly put them in good stead in the race.
The catch, however, is that the German giants will continue to demand a massive transfer fee of €150 million for their prized asset.
It has been previously reported that Los Blancos remain firm on their stance of not wanting to meet that steep valuation for the 19-year-old despite their strong interest in acquiring his services.
Dortmund, for their part, have also been planning to offer Bellingham a new contract with bumper wages that would make him the highest earner at the club, in order to convince him to stay for one more year at least.
However, an exit seems to be written on the cards for Bellingham. What remains to be determined is his next destination and Real Madrid are said to be well-placed to sign him at this point, but as the old adage goes, it is not over until it is over.
According to AS, Real Madrid have sent a three-year contract offer with improved wages to Dani Ceballos and trust that the midfielder will continue at the club.
Ceballos is the last among the seven Los Blancos’ stars who entered the 2022/23 season with an expiring contract whose future is yet to be resolved.
Mariano Diaz, Marco Asensio, and Karim Benzema have all left Real Madrid while Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Nacho Fernandez are all set to continue at the Santiago Bernabeu for one more year.
As such, Ceballos remains the only player whose future remains unclear at this point.
The 26-year-old Spanish international has shown that he can offer value to the team and the club and manager Carlo Ancelotti are understood to ‘love’ him and want to retain his services.
Fans, too, made their feelings about the midfielder very clear this past weekend when Real Madrid played Athletic Club, as they chanted ‘Ceballos, stay!’
The Merengues have sent in a three-year proposal to the former Real Betis ace which includes an improvement in his wages. As such, the club expect him to pen the deal and continue at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, Ceballos is yet to make a decision as he is weighing up the fact that he will have to compete for a place with six other midfielders.
Indeed, Real Madrid already have Kroos, Modric, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurelien Tchouameni as competition for Ceballos. Now, they will also add Jude Bellingham to the roster, further amping up the battle for places.
Ceballos has two more offers apart from the one from Real Madrid – one from Spain and Italy each, although his former club Real Betis have not sent a proposal yet.
With the season over and less than three weeks left on his contract, it remains to be seen what the Real Madrid ace decides.
