Manchester City midfield target could cost record-breaking amount this summer

Borussia Dortmund are set to demand a British record fee for midfielder Jude Bellingham this summer, with Manchester City one of three teams targeting the England international.

Manchester City are widely expected to add to their midfield this summer as the long-term futures of both Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva remain uncertain.

Gundogan is out of contract at the end of the campaign and has been linked with Barcelona, while Bernardo Silva has already hinted at the possibility of leaving the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

Jude Bellingham has been mooted as a possible target for City, who signed both Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

Liverpool and Real Madrid are also widely linked with the 19 year-old, as Bellingham prepares to enter the final two years of his current contract.

The England international played a key role for Gareth Southgate’s side at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and has seven direct goal involvements in 16 Bundesliga appearances so far this season.

Dortmund are seemingly braced for the potential departure of the midfielder this summer, with Florian Plettenberg of Sky German saying that there is “no chance” that the German club can keep hold of Bellingham currently.

The journalist further reports that the Bundesliga side want between €100 and €150 million for the 19 year-old this summer.

“He has a contract without a release clause, so the price tag is very high. Dortmund want to have between €100m-€150m for him in the summer,” said Plettenberg.

Bellingham would therefore likely cost a British transfer record, exceeding the £100 million City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021.

The Premier League champions have also added to their midfield during the January transfer window, signing 20 year-old midfielder Maximo Perrone for £8.2 million.

Perrone isn’t expected to feature for the first-team this campaign though signed a five-and-a-half year deal at the Etihad Stadium.