Manchester City and Real Madrid to face off for £110m Jude Bellingham transfer – Paper Round

Real v Manchester City for Bellingham transfer

The Telegraph gives the lowdown on Jude Bellingham’s future.

Liverpool have dropped out due to the £110 million asking price for the 19-year-old England international, and that could also hamper the chances of Manchester United bringing him in.

Instead it looks like Manchester City and Real Madrid have the most credible hopes, with Chelsea still in with a shot.

“Manchester United also remain strongly interested in signing the 19-year-old midfielder but will find a deal more financially challenging. It is therefore understood that if he leaves Borussia Dortmund at the end of this season it is more likely to be to City or Real.

“Liverpool pulled out of the contest on Tuesday night because of the prohibitive costs of the deal. Paris Saint-Germain are also not in the bidding because they are facing severe Financial Fair Play restrictions and cannot commit to such a signing. Their priority is to sort out the future of Lionel Messi – who could well leave this summer – and decide whether to try and sell Neymar as they build a young, French team created around Kylian Mbappe.

“Chelsea could be a late contender but the financial package to sign Bellingham is being driven higher and higher. There remains the possibility that he could stay with Dortmund for one more season but both City and Real are trying to do a deal now.

“Telegraph Sport revealed last month that the asking price for Bellingham is likely to start at around 125million euros [£110million] and this has certainly not fazed City.”

European clubs line up for Gavi

Spanish newspaper Marca reports that Barcelona’s 18-year-old emerging midfield star Gavi could be a target for a host of clubs this summer.

As a result of their financial difficulties, the Catalans need to tie Gavi down this summer if they are to avoid losing him on a free transfer, and plenty of teams are interested in picking up the teenager for nothing.

“They are following him very closely and are on the lookout in case, finally, Barcelona don’t get their money’s worth and he is released in June.

“This situation has not gone unnoticed by the big clubs in European football. There are not one, not two, not three entities, with a great economic capacity, that are interested in his vague and insecure contractual situation.

“They have contacted his entourage, above all, from England and Germany, but also from other top leagues, although there are no talks or negotiations with any of them.”

De Gea unsure of United future

Manchester United’s Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea is unsure about where he will go next after rejecting the first contract offer to stay at Old Trafford beyond the summer.

“David de Gea remained coy on his Manchester United future after turning down their opening contract offer,” the paper writes.

“The long-serving Spanish goalkeeper – who joined United in the summer of 2011 from Atletico Madrid – and alongside Phil Jones, is the only player remaining at the club from Sir Alex Ferguson’s era in the dugout.

“De Gea signed a hefty deal in 2019 that made him not only the club’s highest-paid player but also the Premier League’s top earner on £375,000 per week. The goalkeeper accepts that at the age of 32, he cannot command the same type of money, but still wants an amount that reflects his value.

“United are thought to be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper this summer to provide competition for De Gea’s place and possibly usurp him as first choice. Porto goalkeeper and Portugal international Diogo Costa is one candidate, while United are keeping tabs on Brentford shot stopper David Raya.”

Lloris set to be replaced by Spurs

That would mean that current first choice, and club captain, Hugo Lloris would be relegated to the bench even if he does not decide to leave in response in the summer.

It would cost £40m to sign up the 26-year-old Italian.

“TOTTENHAM are ready to DROP Hugo Lloris as the club eye a transfer for Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret,” the paper states.

“The 36-year-old is the current club captain and he is into his 11th season at Spurs.

“However, Tottenham are looking for a new younger No1 and are lining up a £40million deal for Meret.

“Tottenham are said to be preparing to speak to the Meret’s representatives ahead of a summer move.

“Napoli would not like to lose him but are aware the stopper’s contract expires at the end of next season.”