Bellingham will leave Dortmund at the end of the season. A bidding war is inevitable.
Jude Bellingham can choose his club next season. For the 19-year-old, it's simple, the whole world is at his feet and the giants are knocking on his door.
United like him, Liverpool want him to inject youth and vitality into the aging midfield, and City know they are likely to replace at least one of Bernardo Silva or Gundogan next summer.
Chelsea are also long-time admirers, and under the leadership of their new owners, they have shown their side of not being afraid to throw money.
Bellingham is a player that every top Premier League club is ready to compete for.
But who will sign the hottest young player in world football?
Bellingham knows his worth:
First of all, there is no guarantee that the teenager from Stubridge will choose to go home. After all, when United went to great lengths to lure him out of Birmingham in 2020, he had already rejected the offers of Sir Alex Ferguson, Brian Robson and Eric Cantona.
Bellingham knew his worth, knew what he thought, and had the confidence of someone much older than he was to go his own way.
He believes that Dortmund is better suited to developing his talents than Old Trafford.
When he was pursued by Manchester United in the same period, Erin Haaland had the same idea - the result was not too bad for him.
So, like Harland, Bellingham will be at the centre of a big transfer scramble after leaving Borussia Dortmund – but don't rule out Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain if he doesn't think returning to England is the right choice for him.
Get ready for the next step:
One thing that seems to be true is that he will be ready for the next step after the end of the season.
In Dortmund's Champions League defeat to Manchester City earlier this month, he showed what he was capable of, scoring a goal at Etihad and no less than Pep Guardiola's star-studded side.
He feels like he is the one who has taken LinkedIn Gran to the next level before the World Cup, and Gareth Southgate faces the problem of how to deal with the midfielder in this international match.
In fact, there is a growing concern that the manager's conservative tactics will stifle Bellingham's immense talent.
The future of England:
Bellingham's versatility is his forte, which has also kept Southgate involved for the past 18 months – but he needs to be given a clear role on the team.
The feeling is that Bellingham is England's future and there is now a need to build a midfield around Bellingham, but last week's 0-1 loss to Italy underscored this again, with the Three Lions relegated from the top of the national league as a result, and doubts have been raised about Southgate's ability to bring England's finest attacking talent to the fullest.
Still, more and more people are asking Bellingham and Rice to form the World Cup England midfielder. Of course, how Southgate chooses to supplement them is up to him. This decision is likely to determine the outcome of England's game and, in turn, the legend of the manager.
However, it is clear that if Bellingham shines in Qatar, Dortmund can effectively price their most valuable assets.
He has been recognized as a potential defining talent for the era. If Bellingham can make his mark on the 2022 World Cup, he could become a £100 million ($110 million) player by this time next year, which significantly narrows the range of his potential transfer destinations...
Manchester United's hope:
So, will he become United's first player worth more than 100 million?
Eric Tyne Haig, after admitting to the failure of his long-term pursuit of De Jong, still feels he lacks a midfielder with the ball.
United are still keeping an eye on the Netherlands international in Barcelona, but Bellingham's impending arrival could prompt them to change course.
United are proud to have England star midfield at the heart of many years, from Sir Charlton to Robson and Beckham.
But they need to make real progress under the head coach to dispel the doubts that Bellingham clearly felt when he was last pursued by the club. A clear style, the prospect of winning the title and evidence that the players are truly progressing under the guidance of the head coach will be key factors.
Sancho's effects:
Jaden Sancho may be a help or an obstacle in this regard.
The winger, who moved from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United in the summer of 2021, became the latest big name player to stagnate at Old Trafford, causing him to lose his England spot.
While Sancho was Bellingham's motivator before moving to Westphalia, it is impossible for him not to see Sancho's difficulties in returning to English football with Manchester United.
But the United manager has already had an impact on Sancho. He has scored three goals this season and this is in response to the attention of his new coach.
If Bellingham's development continues upwards, this will have a positive impact on his thinking.
Liverpool lead?
In many ways, Liverpool are the ideal choice for Bellingham – it's easy to see why Klopp admires him so much.
The Germans need young midfield energy, and this season's midfield has shown signs of aging.
Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Thiago Alcantara are all in their 30s, and their combined ages are 99.
Klopp was ready to wait for a suitable target, and Bellingham was widely considered to be the man – but Liverpool were so worrisome at the start of the season that a transfer on loan for Arthur was hastily completed before the transfer window closed.
Brazilians are nothing more than a stopgap measure. Liverpool's number one target remains Bellingham. But is the usually frugal FSG really willing to go into a bidding battle for this 19-year-old with some of the top clubs in England and Europe?
Of course, they had been prepared to spend a fortune before, and after confirming Virgil van Dijk and Alison as the contenders, they broke the record of bringing in centre-back and goalkeeper, and Bellingham fits that description perfectly.
If we witness the beginning of a transition period after Sadio Mane and the natural decline of those players who have played a key role in Liverpool's recent successes, it will also be fascinating whether Klopp and Liverpool can maintain their appeal.
Manchester City's attractions:
Instead, when Liverpool are in decline, City seem ready to dominate in the coming years – thanks in large part to a move from former Dortmund team-mate Haaland in Bellingham.
It's hard for any young player not to be excited about the prospect of joining Pep Guardiola's back-to-back titled team.
Haaland has shown us what happens when outstanding personal talent is combined with this devastating fluid machine.
It's tempting for Bellingham to play alongside De Bruyne, the unrivalled midfielder, and also to have a chance to run into Foden, England's other big hope.
In addition, Gundogan's contract will expire next summer, and Bernardo has almost left this window, so the team will likely bring in an important player as a replacement.
Manchester City have also shown they are prepared to pay £100 million for a player (Jack Greylich), the only English club to do so.
Chelsea's ambitious new boss:
Chelsea are one of four Premier League teams with realistic ambitions for Bellingham.
By the end of the season, both Ngolo Kante and Yornio's contracts will expire. Rice is still a long-term target, but its valuation is also over £100 million.
The commitment to bring in two England players will be the main statement of new owners Todd Burley and Clearlake Capital, but the midfield is undoubtedly an area that needs to be overhauled.
The truth is that Bellingham has every reason to tackle the problems of the Premier League's four or more teams.
The world is his, and the choices are his.