Manchester City are leading the race for Jude Bellingham after Liverpool backed away from a deal for the England midfielder, sources have told ESPN.
Real Madrid remain interested in Bellingham but City are growing increasingly confident they can land the 19-year-old from Borussia Dortmund.
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City are actively looking to sign at least one midfielder in the summer window because of doubts over the long-term futures of Ilkay Gundogan, whose contract is due to expire in June, and Bernardo Silva.
Bellingham’s transfer is likely to cost more than £130 million, although Dortmund have not given up hope of keeping the teenager for one more season.
Bellingham was recently placed No. 1 on ESPN’s 39 best male players age 21 or under, having excelled for Dortmund since joining the club in 2020. He increased his stature yet further with a series of impressive showings for England as they reached the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup.
According to sources, Liverpool, have decided to cool their interest in Bellingham after choosing instead to use their summer budget to improve the depth of the squad rather than use it to sign one player.
