Dortmund midfielder Bellingham is one of the names everyone says when considering who is the best young player in world football. Bellingham is still just 19 years old and has left his mark on the Bundesliga for the past two years since he moved €30 million from Birmingham City in 2020. Now, Dortmund values his transfer at more than €120 million.
Some of Europe's top clubs have been looking to sign the England international, so which club is best suited for Bellingham?
Liverpool are looking for a midfielder with Bellingham skills and physical qualities. With head coach Klopp) preparing for the next phase of the club's development, the entire midfield could be transformed in the next few transfer windows. Klopp had to make repairs in midfield due to injury or ill condition and didn't seem to find the right candidate.
Not only did injuries prevent Naby Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain from maintaining steady form in the team, but the next generation of 21-year-old Curtis Jones and 19-year-old Harvey Elliott lost the chance to perform more. Then there's the question of whether veterans Milner (36) and Henderson (32) can play the full game. The only stable midfield was Fabinho.
With all the uncertainty in Liverpool's current midfield, Bellingham's athleticism (he almost never misses a game) and technique are perfect for Klopp. But one question remains: Whether Bellingham will turn down joining a very strong team that will be a core member of the team he joins, but at Anfield he may be in a rotational position rather than a main role.
Manchester City's midfield seems perfect, but there are still a number of reasons why Manchester City are interested in Bellingham. While Rodri and Calvin Phillips cover the role of the possession midfielder well, Pep Guardiola tends to make room for position swaps and creativity between the more advanced midfielders attacking midfielders, which suits Bellingham well. In fact, the former Birmingham star's skills have made Pep Guardiola very fond of him.
In addition, Bernardo Silva, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are all interested in him - likely to become a topic again in the summer, while Gundogan's current contract expires in 2023.
The 19-year-old has already built a good relationship with Phil Foden in England and has seen his former Dortmund team-mate Elin Haaland perform well at Manchester City, and if City decide to pursue their interests, he will not lack the voice of a move to Manchester City.
In a team that usually lacks energy and running, Bellingham offers a range of options at Old Trafford manager Eric Teng Haag. United missed the chance to sign Barcelona's Frenki de Jong in the summer
United have two players who can carry out similar tasks – Fred and Donnie van der Beek – but neither has yet to live up to the expected impact, so a potential transfer to Bellingham could be for the club and important.
Although there are already plenty of options in midfield, La Liga and Champions League champions are reportedly still interested in Bellingham. As evidenced by the fact that they spent a lot of money to attract world-class talent, such as Eduardo Camavenga (31 million euros) and Orelin Joan Ameni (80 million euros).
With Luca Modric, Tony Cross, Federico Valverde, Camavinga and Gioameni all vying for the position.
Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine Bellingham finding a natural place in the Bernabeu midfield within a year. The contracts of Modric (37) and Kroos (32) expired, but the Briton could theoretically replace them, making him a major attraction. Two such high-profile departures will make Valverde (24) Carlos Ancelotti's most experienced regulars in midfield, but the sheer quality and compatibility of the future quartet will still allow Madrid's favourites to repeat their domestic and European glory.
Of course, there is an option to stay in Dortmund. Bellingham knows the team and fits in with the team's style, having scored 13 goals and assisted 18 times in 100 games so far.
The midfielder's contract won't expire until 2025, so the ball has been on the pitch in Dortmund for years or so, but the Bundesliga side will be keen to extend the contract – possibly including a large release clause of around €150 million.
Bellingham is still only 19 years old, so he will have plenty of time to think about where his long-term future lies.