Real Madrid given ‘priority’ in the race to sign 19-year-old Liverpool transfer target

Real Madrid handed an advantage over Liverpool in the race for Jude Bellingham

Borussia Dortmund give Real Madrid ‘priority’ in the race to sign 19-year-old star midfielder Jude Bellingham amid Liverpool links. In a major blow to Liverpool, the German outfit decide to give the Spanish giants the upper hand to sign the teenage sensation as per Marca (h/t Liverpool Echo).

Not so long ago, a report from O’Jogo via Liverpool Echo discussed the fact that Liverpool had the priority to sign Argentina’s World Cup winner from SL Benfica Enzo Fernandez. Although it led to the speculation for a while that Liverpool could have both of their primary transfer targets on board by next summer, Dortmund and Real Madrid seem to play spoilsport in Merseyside.

Amid a lot of interest from both the Reds and Los Blancos, there has been a lot of conjecture on the former Birmingham City midfielder’s future. At one point, his deal to Liverpool seemed all but done during the World Cup when he hung around with the Reds, Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold in Qatar.

Moreover, the fashion in which he celebrated Hendo’s goal against Senegal in the Round of 16 sent all Liverpool fans to dreamland. Only fans who watched it live would remember that feeling when Hendo and Jude celebrated in that fashion.

Is Bellingham slipping away from the Reds?

In 32 appearances across competitions for club and country this season, Jude has 10 goals and five assists. Die Schwarzgelben value Bellingham at £131m and thereabouts as per The Athletic and the Reds will need to do more than just match that deal.

Considering Marca’s report as factual, the Reds would not only need to entice the player to come towards the L4 and rock Anfield but will need to do something extraordinary to convince Dortmund as well given they have their priorities set in Spain’s capital. Here is what the report from Marca

“The English press suggests that the Borussia Dortmund player has decided to give priority to Real Madrid,”

“If so, the work done previously by the Madrid entity will bear fruit, since the harassment is constant. Liverpool is the team that is hanging around Bellingham the most.”

However, what could potentially play the ball in Liverpool’s court is the fact that a few claims from earlier in the month talked about Carlo Ancelotti’s side’s unwillingness to match that HUGE asking price set on him by Edin Terzic.

More Liverpool News

• Transfer News: Liverpool plan January deal for Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez
• Chelsea and Liverpool are in the race for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo
• Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp makes Sofyan Amrabat a top transfer target

Real Madrid and Liverpool’s off-the-field transfer war will come to the pitch as well, in the Reds’ first UEFA Champions League game after the international break. The teams will face each other in the Round of 16, and Liverpool would hope to exact revenge for the last three times at once and also get Bellingham on board by the next summer.