Scholes claims Man United MUST be in contention to sign Bellingham in the summer

Paul Scholes has claimed that Manchester United are in contention to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund this summer.

The 19-year-old England international is expected to make a big money move away from Germany in the summer transfer window.

Speaking on BT Sport ahead of United's Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla at Old Trafford, Scholes claimed that his former club could land Bellingham's signature despite seemingly being out of the race at the start of the season.

Scholes also stated his belief that given his age, Bellingham would turn United into a 'proper team' for many years to come.

He told viewers: 'I think they are contenders [to sign him]. If you went back a couple of years you’d have said no chance. Even back to the start of this season.

'But now I think they have to be. He would look at this team and think this is up and coming for the next few years.

'I do think he will sign for Real Madrid, I’m not sure why, but I do hope he comes here. He could make United a proper team.'

United face stiff competition to sign Bellingham from a number of top sides across the continent as the 19-year-old is considered to be one of the hottest properties on the market.

Real Madrid are also thought to be admirers of the teen sensation and fellow pundit Owen Hargreaves believes that an offer to become a Galactico would be tough to turn down.

Hargreaves told BT Sport: 'Once Real coming knocking, the boys tend to end up there.'

By the summer, Bellingham will have two years left on his Dortmund contract, which is set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.

United's Premier League rivals Liverpool were recently ruled out of the race to sign the talented youngster as they can not justify spending over £100 million on a single player when the rest of the squad is in need of a rebuild.