Real Madrid News
Real Madrid target’s price soars to €150-160m, could stay at current club for another year
According to the reliable David Ornstein (h/t Football Daily), Real Madrid target Jude Bellingham’s asking price has soared to €150-160 million, due to which he could end up staying at Borussia Dortmund for another year.
Bellingham is one of the most sought-after midfielders in the market at this moment. Liverpool have withdrawn from the race to sign the England star due to the costs involved, leaving Real Madrid and Manchester City to battle it out.
Chelsea and PSG have also shown interest in the 19-year-old, but he does not favour a move to either club.
Real Madrid were said to be willing to do ‘whatever it takes’ to sign Bellingham as they look to reinforce their midfield unit in the summer.
However, as per Ornstein, Dortmund are now likely to demand a sum of €150-160 million for the England international.
And, it is unlikely that Real Madrid would be willing to meet that valuation. It has been previously reported that the European champions have reservations about splashing such an amount of money on the 19-year-old, especially when they have to bear stadium renovation costs.
Manchester City, for their part, have a good relationship with Dortmund. However, they too are likely to shy away from spending such huge amounts for the teenage midfielder’s signing.
As a result, there is a possibility that Bellingham will remain at the German club for one more season. The midfielder’s current contract with the club expires in 2025, meaning he will have just a year left on his deal after the 2023/24 season.
At that point, Bellingham would be available for a much more affordable price, provided he does not renew his contract with Dortmund.
It remains to be seen how this saga develops over the coming weeks as Real Madrid look to land their priority target, but for a price that is not outrageous.
Real Madrid are set to kick off their Champions League campaign on Tuesday when they host Inter Milan at the Bernabeu.
Jose Mourinho’s side will be looking to bounce back after suffering their first defeat of the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis last time out.
And ahead of the crucial European opener, the Portuguese has received a timely boost, with Thiago Pitarch and Endrick both in contention to feature.
Pitarch and Endrick back in training
According to Arancha Rodriguez, Pitarch and Endrick returned to full group training on Sunday, alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, in the final session before the Inter clash. Both are now in contention to make the squad vs Inter.
All three had been sidelined by injury, with Pitarch having suffered a torn medial collateral ligament during pre-season and Endrick nursing a muscular problem.
Their return to team training is a welcome development for Mourinho, even if none of the trio are likely to start given they missed more than a month of preparation.
Of the group, Pitarch and Endrick are reported to have the best chance of making the matchday squad, with the pair now working to sharpen their fitness in the coming days.
Why Pitarch could prove crucial
Pitarch’s potential availability is particularly significant given Mourinho’s threadbare midfield options for the Inter game.
Real Madrid will be without Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva, all of whom are suspended, leaving the Portuguese short in the middle of the park.
With Tchouameni also only just returning from a groin issue, the young Spaniard could offer valuable depth in an area where Mourinho has few alternatives.
For Endrick, meanwhile, the game represents a chance to make his competitive debut under Mourinho and begin clawing back ground on Carlos Espi in the race for a bench role in attack.
While Mourinho will not want to rush any of his returning players, having Pitarch and Endrick back in the fold offers him some much-needed flexibility as Real Madrid look to make a statement in Europe.
