A big question mark remains over Jude Bellingham’s future and whether Manchester United can get a deal done.
United have been linked to the youngster since December [The Telegraph] before speculation kicked into a new gear as 2020 began.
Bellingham had a tour of Carrington in March led by Sir Alex Ferguson, The Mirror reported, with United said to be ready to pay £30 million to sign the 16-year-old.
Interest from Borussia Dortmund has complicated the situation, leading to a waiting game to see if Bellingham will choose United, or not.
BILD reported this week that while Dortmund believe they have an agreement with the player, they are £10 million short of Birmingham’s £30 million asking price.
A decision may be close
Well the wait could finally be coming to an end, due to a key date at the end of this month.
Bellingham turns 17 on June 29, meaning he can finally sign a professional contract at Birmingham.
From this point, Birmingham can agree to sell him for to £30 million fee suggested.
Prior to this, United would have had to break Bellingham’s scholarship at Birmingham and pay a compensation fee.
It could have led to a more messy dispute, and in any case, Bellingham has been in no rush.
All indications have been that he wants his club, Birmingham City, to get the proper fee they would be owed and secure huge funds towards their future, rather than have them cheated out of it.
So when we hit June 29, Bellingham should sign a pro deal, as the Manchester Evening News and Sky Sports report, and United’s pursuit of the player can move forward.
If he chooses Dortmund, then at least we will know and can move on accordingly.
It is a probability that Bellingham will play out the rest of the Championship season with Birmingham, but from the 29th the club could agree to a sale.
He may be advised not to play and jeopardise that huge influx of money, with the club sitting in 16th in the league table at present and likely to fall well short of the promotion play-offs anyway.
The Evening Standard report United have told Bellingham he will go straight into the United first team squad if he signs. Not many 16-year-old’s get promised that. We will soon see if that is enough to persuade him.
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