Revealed: How much Manchester City need to pay to sign Jude Bellingham this summer

Manchester City will have to break the British transfer record for the second time in three years if they are to win the race for Jude Bellingham this summer.

The Premier League champions are well underway in their search for new faces and talents to refresh Pep Guardiola’s squad ahead of next season, with central midfield understood to be a priority position for the club.

With the continued uncertainty surrounding the futures of Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, there is every possibility that City will look to permit a significant level of financing on the right profile of player.

As such, the club have identified Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham as their number one target in the middle of the park. But reports from English media this week have now revealed the staggering levels to which Manchester City would have to reach in order to beat away the competition for the teenager.

What is Manchester City’s stance?

According to The Telegraph, sources have indicated that Manchester City are prepared to pay ‘whatever it takes’ to secure the services of Jude Bellingham this summer, and link him up again with former Borussia Dortmund teammate Erling Haaland.

Such is Manchester City’s desire to sign the player that the same report claims that City will ‘not simply stand by and allow’ Real Madrid to sign the 19 year-old.

How much would Manchester City have to pay to sign him?

Manchester City will have to pay as much as £130 million to sign Jude Bellingham this summer, according to journalist Martin Blackburn.

That is largely down to the financial commitment to a possible deal from the side of Real Madrid, who – according to The Telegraph – are ready to pay €115 million as a guaranteed fee for Jude Bellingham.

The La Liga giants are also reportedly prepared to go as high as €150 million with add-ons. However, it is stressed that such add-ons are likely to be ‘challenging’, with Bellingham having to win the Champions League and possibly the Ballon D’Or.

Is it just Manchester City and Real Madrid in the race for Jude Bellingham?

Those two clubs are likely to dictate the direction of Jude Bellingham’s future this summer, however recent reports have claimed that Erik Ten Hag is desperate for Manchester United officials to pursue the signature of the teenager.

Elsewhere, Liverpool have formally backed out of the race for the player, with the finances at play deemed too substantial in a summer where they require a significant rebuild of large parts of Jurgen Klopp’s playing squad.

Do Manchester City have any alternatives to Jude Bellingham?

Etihad Stadium bosses could turn their attention to 20-year-old Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga according to the Daily Mail, should they miss out on Jude Bellingham this summer. The highly-rated Spaniard is understood to have a £35 million release clause in his contract.