Liverpool face competition from arch-rivals for Bundesliga ace

Transfer News: Chelsea to rival Liverpool in their pursuit of Jude Bellingham

According to The Telegraph [subscription needed] (h/t Liverpool Echo), Chelsea are ready to enter the race to sign long-term Liverpool target Jude Bellingham. The 19-year-old proved to be one of England’s best players in the current international break, drawing interest from the Stamford Bridge outfit.

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has been extensively scouted by Liverpool ever since his move to the Bundesliga from Birmingham City in 2020. Apart from the Reds, Real Madrid are also tracking the midfielder, but as it stands, the Merseysiders lead the race

Chelsea are currently under the ownership of Todd Boehly, who took charge prior to the season. The American owner has also appointed a new manager in Graham Potter and is trying to bring about a change in the club. An investment of £300m in the first transfer window of the Boehly era, who is also working as sporting director at Chelsea, they are ready to splurge more cash to bring in Jude next summer.

Where will Jude go in 2023?

With Real Madrid also hovering over the player, and now Chelsea, Liverpool are not short of competition in their pursuit to sign Bellingham. His contract at Dortmund runs down until 2025. Earlier this week, it was also claimed that the player opted to move to Santiago Bernabeu

A number of midfielders including the likes of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain run out of contract with Liverpool in 2023. Moreover, talks of an extension for either player currently seem headed nowhere.

As far as Chelsea are concerned, the contracts of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante are yet to see an extension. Current deals for both expiring next summer. Moreover, the Fulham-based club also have Declan Rice as a transfer target for the longest time.

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With the threat of Chelsea and Real Madrid looming over Liverpool’s chances of signing Bellingham, it is extremely crucial for the Reds to reach a deal with Dortmund and the player over a deal as soon as possible, leaving other clubs no room to have a crack at the Englishman’s services.