Real Madrid News
Real Madrid target did not want to join a club ruled by “Sheikhs” or a country
Real Madrid appear to be in pole position to secure the services of Jude Bellingham this summer. The club have reached an understanding with the young midfielder over a summer switch to Santiago Bernabeu, though they must now reach an agreement with Borussia Dortmund.
Real Madrid are said to be proposing a figure of €100 million as their opening bid for Bellingham. But no matter what happens with their negotiations with Dortmund, it appears Bellingham himself has his heart set on a move to Spain.
In a recent YouTube session with Fabrizio Romano, German journalist Patrick Berger has revealed that the reason behind Bellingham’s decision to join Real Madrid is that he did not want to join a club ruled by Sheikhs.
Berger goes on to explain that Bellingham also did not want to join a club owned by a country, such as Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United and Chelsea. He described the transfer strategies of these clubs as ‘crazy’.
Berger adds that Bellingham always wanted to join a traditional club, which is why the midfielder was torn between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The Englishman ended up opting for Real Madrid for various reasons, including the club’s sporting prospects, especially with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos unlikely to continue at the Bernabeu beyond 2024.
With Bellingham firmly in the bag, Real Madrid will look to shift their focus onto other targets. It was revealed recently that Los Blancos might fancy a move for Kylian Mbappe, but signing the Frenchman in the coming summer could be tricky, notes Romano.
Apart from a midfielder and a striker, Real Madrid are likely to enter the market for a new right-back. Interestingly, former youth player and another PSG star Achraf Hakimi is open to a return to Bernabeu.
Real Madrid News
Chelsea, Liverpool ready to move for Real Madrid midfield target in January – report
Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on Alex Scott’s situation. The AFC Bournemouth midfielder has been impressing in the Premier League and recently made his debut for the England national team.
Given their need for a midfield reinforcement, Real Madrid are tracking the youngster as the Spanish giants believe he could provide a different profile to complement their existing options.
Chelsea, Liverpool ready to move in January
According to TEAMtalk (h/t Bernabeu Digital), Real Madrid intend to continue monitoring Scott throughout the season before deciding whether to make a move in next summer’s transfer window.
However, they could face competition from the Premier League, with Liverpool and Chelsea also tracking the 23-year-old.
Both Premier League clubs are preparing substantial offers for Scott ahead of the January transfer window.
Bournemouth have placed an €80 million valuation on the midfielder, although the club have no intention of selling him in January and would prefer to consider a departure next summer.
The Cherries are already looking at potential replacements and have identified Fer Lopez as a long-term successor.
Real Madrid prepared to wait until the summer
Real Madrid are already planning their recruitment strategy for next summer, monitoring several players before deciding which targets to pursue when the transfer window opens.
For now, the Merengues are not expected to make a move for Scott in January. Instead, they intend to continue assessing his performances and availability over the coming months.
If the Bournemouth midfielder becomes available from June onwards, the Spanish capital giants will then decide whether to make a formal approach.
Their preference to wait could leave the door open for Liverpool and Chelsea to move first, particularly if either club are prepared to meet Bournemouth’s valuation during the winter window.
In the meantime, Jose Mourinho & co. are also keeping an eye on other options to strengthen their midfield. In fact, recent reports suggest that an enquiry has been made for Napoli star Scott McTominay.
The Scotsman contract with the Serie A side expires in 2028 and with his club not offering a renewal so far, he could emerge as a serious option.
