There is a growing belief, according to those with knowledge of the situation, that Jude Bellingham's next club will be Manchester City.
Sportsmail understands that the Premier League champions, along with a number of key rivals at home and abroad, are keen on taking the 19-year-old midfielder from Borussia Dortmund.
And they are now being viewed as the likely winners of what would be a major transfer battle.
Relations between City and Dortmund are strong, following Erling Haaland's summer switch between the two, and initial conversations have been held at City's end.
A move may not materialise for some time, with the prospect of a strong performance at the World Cup pricing the England man out of the market. It is, however, highly unlikely that he will see out his contract in Germany.
City boss Pep Guardiola was gushing in his praise of Bellingham when the two sides clashed in the Champions League this season, calling him 'the whole package' and hailing his development following his arrival at Dortmund from Birmingham City.
'He was 17 when he arrived but it was not just about his quality, how he was leading, his kicking, going to the referee,' he said.
'This guy was something special in terms of his mentality. Now he is 19 and he is already one of the captains.
'The quality, everybody knows it. The whole package is really good.'
Liverpool and Real Madrid are among those in the hunt.
Wopnoruy
0
we are waiting
wokcknotu
0
Amen we're well coming judge at Etihad stadium in the might name of Jesus
animulmoll
0
You have Rodri, Phillips, Gundogan, D'buryne, Bernado, etc...and now u want Bellingham!! what a selfish manager and club!!
Gundo is 32 d'buryne is 31 so they need good replacement
weocorty
2
ask grealish and Philips
cryyyyyy
TillerKhalid777
0
I think city will have upper hand on Jude coz thing always work out between city and Dortmund first cancelo ,ikay ,akanji,haaland
we got cancelo from Juventus
TheoJr1
0
The pain goes straight to the club that thinks they can get anyone on the market
ShubhankurSharma
0
no we don't need another overhype + expensive English...city should consider tielamans or even f.wirtz of levekusen cheap and better
Bro tielemans is ass off the ball. If city arent able to get him, then they should stick to the academy. James mcatee is a superb player, reminds me of David silva.
Wuabdluyz
0
ask grealish and Philips
romise
0
I think city will have upper hand on Jude coz thing always work out between city and Dortmund first cancelo ,ikay ,akanji,haaland
TiyanjaneChalamwendo
3
i don't think City need him
padaloptu
0
You have Rodri, Phillips, Gundogan, D'buryne, Bernado, etc...and now u want Bellingham!! what a selfish manager and club!!
he will replace Gundo
YASH16
1
Guardiola want to damage another player like he did in Kelvin Philip
he is injured i guess
BrianKessy767
0
no we don't need another overhype + expensive English...city should consider tielamans or even f.wirtz of levekusen cheap and better
nobbeptuz
1
City and Barca keep buying players they don't even need just to keep other teams away from them; and in the end they end up messing up with these fine players' careers
Haycikptuz
0
You have Rodri, Phillips, Gundogan, D'buryne, Bernado, etc...and now u want Bellingham!! what a selfish manager and club!!
also you
Haycikptuz
5
city is going to win the battle ๐ just like halland
nobbeptuz
1
You have Rodri, Phillips, Gundogan, D'buryne, Bernado, etc...and now u want Bellingham!! what a selfish manager and club!!
Hipbcdmrt
1
Guardiola want to damage another player like he did in Kelvin Philip
lawalidris
5
City is the right place for him.
jasondrx77
1
city's standards and chances to win the UCL will continue to shrink if they another inexperienced overhyped english player
if we cared we would fire the manager like some clubs do... we don't ๐คฃ
jedcdkmorz
0
Bello Lawan
Yuabcdmnty
2
city's standards and chances to win the UCL will continue to shrink if they another inexperienced overhyped english player
D-Maestreo
6
Welcome to City Jude. Be rest assured your trophy cabinet would start flowing with trophies ๐๐๐