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Real Madrid are close to securing a deal to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. The England midfielder has been a target for Premier League clubs including Manchester City but negotiations with Madrid are progressing to the final stages.
The Champions League holders have almost agreed personal terms with Bellingham and the work of their chief scout, Juni Calafat, has been important in accelerating discussions to this point. A meeting is scheduled to try to complete an agreement with Dortmund.
Although no fee has been settled, Madrid do not anticipate a problem in that regard. The progress made by the Spanish club is a blow for City, their most serious rivals in pursuit of Bellingham, who turns 20 in June.
Liverpool withdrew from the race last month because the cost would have restricted the planned overhaul of Jürgen Klopp’s squad. Manchester United are keen on the player but that interest was contingent on moves by the Glazers to sell the club or take outside investment.
Bellingham joined Dortmund from Birmingham in 2020 and has developed into one of the world’s most sought-after players. For Madrid there is succession planning as well as short-term thinking involved in targeting Bellingham, with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric aged 33 and 37 respectively.
Madrid have been well off the pace in La Liga this season, Tuesday’s defeat at Real Sociedad leaving them 14 points adrift of Barcelona, who are close to securing the title, but they remain in contention for two trophies.
They face City in the Champions League semi-finals, with the first leg at the Bernabéu on Tuesday, and play Osasuna in Saturday’s Copa del Rey final.
Guardian
