Real Madrid News
Real Madrid will not offer more than €120 million for primary midfield target
Real Madrid’s desire to sign Jude Bellingham next season is an open secret. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has emerged as one of the most talented young players in world football and the Spanish giants are keen on securing his services in the summer of 2023.
Bellingham, who is coming on the back of an excellent World Cup, is being likely as a direct long-term replacement for Luka Modric. The ageing midfielder has his contract expiring at the end of the season, and though he is likely to extend his contract, Real Madrid may need a successor sooner rather than later.
That is where Bellingham comes into the fray. However, according to Tomas Gonzalez-Martin, Real Madrid are facing a financial roadblock in their pursuit of the Englishman.
The report suggests that Real Madrid are not willing to pay more than €120 million, including add-ons, for Bellingham. The midfielder, who has a contract at Dortmund until 2025, has been reportedly valued at around €150 million by the German giants.
To make things worse for Real Madrid, their rivals in the race to sign Bellingham, primarily from the English Premier League, are willing to pay up to €150 million for the midfielder.
Liverpool and Manchester City are among the clubs believed to be keen on the services of the former Birmingham City starlet. Dortmund, though, are making life tougher for all interested parties as they have no desire to part ways with the youngster, just a year after they had to let go of Erling Haaland.
The report also adds that Bellingham desires to move to Real Madrid and it will be up to him to convince Dortmund to let them join the Merengues instead of a club that would offer a higher sum for his services.
With that in mind, Real Madrid may have to fork out significantly more than €120 million if they are to get hold of the services of Bellingham next season.
The Whites, though, are exploring alternatives in the market, including former AC Milan starlet Manuel Locatelli, while SL Benfica and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez is also a solid option as Plan B if the Merengues miss out on Bellingham.
According to AS, Atletico Madrid have made the first approach for Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga, who has also been linked heavily with a move to Real Madrid and Arsenal.
The 20-year-old midfielder has emerged as one of the most exciting young prospects in Spanish football this season, having already netted nine goals in La Liga.
It has alerted a series of top-level clubs, with the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid all being linked with the youngster, who has a €40 million release clause in his contract with Celta.
Real Madrid are in the market for midfield reinforcements and have identified Jude Bellingham as their top target, but Veiga is also said to be on the agenda at the Santiago Bernabeu
However, recently, the Galician club’s president confirmed that there had been contact from clubs in England, but stated that Real Madrid had made no approach.
On top of that, a report from MARCA quoted a club source saying that they were not contemplating signing the 20-year-old.
Amidst this, it has now emerged that Atletico Madrid have made an approach towards signing Veiga from Celta Vigo in the summer transfer window.
The Rojiblancos are also in the market for new midfielders amid question marks over the futures of Saul Niguez and Geoffrey Kondogbia.
While Diego Simeone’s side have taken a first step, the report indicates that Veiga, in case of the absence of interest from Real Madrid, would prefer to join Arsenal.
So, the Colchoneros will need to put in efforts to convince the 20-year-old to choose them over a move to the Premier League club come summer if they are serious about adding the talented youngster to their roster for next season.
