Manchester City suffer major summer transfer blow as target closes in on Real Madrid move

Manchester City look set to suffer a significant blow to their summer transfer window plans, as reported target Jude Bellingham closes in on a move to Real Madrid.

The England teenager is reportedly “close” to agreeing a transfer to La Liga, despite interest from several Premier League clubs, including Manchester City.

Bellingham had been earmarked as a potential replacement for City captain Ilkay Gundogan, who is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a potential free transfer to Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola’s side are expected to undergo a midfield overhaul this summer, with the future of Bernardo Silva still uncertain, as the Portugal international remains tight-lipped regarding his plans beyond the current campaign.

Kalvin Phillips also has an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium despite signing from Leeds last year, with interest from a series of Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa and West Ham.

Manchester City were reportedly ‘increasingly confident’ of signing Bellingham last month, after Premier League rivals Liverpool cooled their interest in the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.

It was further claimed that the Blues would ‘not simply stand by and allow’ Real Madrid to sign the 19 year-old, with City willing to pay ‘whatever it takes’ to complete a deal.

However in surprising development, Bellingham looks set to sign for La Liga giants Real Madrid, a huge blow to Manchester City’s summer transfer plans.

Fabrizio Romano reports that the La Liga giants are ‘close’ to completing a deal to sign Bellingham from Dortmund, with a ‘new meeting’ scheduled to complete the agreement.

Negotiations are ‘progressing to the final stages’ according to the journalist, as Real Madrid prepare to beat the Blues to the signature of the Englishman.

Manchester City face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals next week, traveling to the Spanish capital for the first-leg on Tuesday.

City beat Bayern Munich to reach the semi-finals for a third successive season and set-up a clash with the current holders.