PEP GUARDIOLA and the Manchester City hierarchy are determined to win the fight for Jude Bellingham.
Real Madrid believe they are leading the race for the £100million-plus rated England midfielder, as SunSport revealed on Wednesday.
But Etihad sources reckon the prospect of working with Guardiola will swing the Dortmund star’s decision in their favour.
Bellingham, 19, is wanted by the biggest clubs on the planet — including Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson tried to convince Bellingham Anfield was the place for him while they were in Qatar for the World Cup.
The Birmingham City youth product has been the top target for Kop boss Jurgen Klopp for more than a year and is aware how much the German wants to work with him.
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Asked about a January move, Klopp said: “I’m the wrong person to ask about whether Jude is available in January.
“The January window? We are looking and if something happens, we’ll see. From a sports side, we are always prepared.”
SunSport also told how United boss Erik ten Hag is plotting a £200m raid for Bellingham and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.
City think they can seal a Bellingham deal due to Guardiola signing to stay until 2025 and also the chance to reunite with his old Borussia Dortmund pal Erling Haaland.
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All of his suitors have been told that Bellingham will prioritise football reasons over money when he picks his next club.
He is expected to leave Germany in the summer and City are prepared to shatter the £100m British transfer record they paid to Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in the summer of 2021.
Bellingham is valued at £130m by Dortmund if the deal is structured with staggered payments like most mega-money moves.
However, it is understood that he could leave for just £83m if the entire fee is paid up front.
City see signing Bellingham as the ideal way to revamp their midfield in the future.
Ilkay Gundogan, 32, is out of contract in the summer.
And Bernardo Silva is unsure over his future, with Barcelona having tried to sign him last summer.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
