Boehly makes early Bellingham bid as Chelsea rival Liverpool and Real Madrid

Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing England international Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund next summer.

Bellingham, 19, is regarded as one of the best young players in Europe following a stunning start to his career. The midfielder recently made his 100th appearance for Dortmund and has excelled in the Bundesliga and Champions League, winning the DFB-Pokal.

The former Birmingham City youngster was part of Gareth Southgate's squad for Euro 2020 and is being tipped to play a huge role in this year's World Cup in Qatar, which starts in November. He's won 17 senior caps for England after making his debut aged just 17.

Several clubs - including Liverpool and Real Madrid - are believed to be interested in signing Bellingham, if he decides to leave Dortmund next summer. The midfielder is rated at an eye-watering £130million and still has three years remaining on his existing deal.

As reported by The Telegraph, Chelsea are trying to play catch up in the race for Bellingham's signature. It's believed Blues chair Todd Boehly and his fellow owners have contacted the player's agent in a bid to persuade him to come to Stamford Bridge.

Boehly is currently in charge of Chelsea's transfer business. It's claimed he believes there is still enough time for them to lure Bellingham to London and is not concerned by the hours of work Real and Liverpool have already put into the transfer.

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Bellingham is said to prefer a move to either Real or Liverpool, the two sides that competed last season's Champions League final in Paris. Both European heavyweights would love to sign the Englishman due to their respective need for a central midfielder.

Real duo Luka Modric, 37, and Toni Kroos, 32, are both coming towards the end of their glittering careers - winning five Champions Leagues each - and the same can be said about Liverpool's Jordan Henderson, 32, Thiago Alcantara, 31, and James Milner, 36.

Real have already started planning for the future by signing young midfielders Eduardo Camavinga, 19, and Aurelien Tchouameni, 22, in recent windows. Liverpool, meanwhile, have the likes of Curtis Jones, 21, and Harvey Elliott, 19, coming through the ranks.

Chelsea are reportedly aware of Real and Liverpool being ahead in the race for Bellingham's signature, yet that hasn't put Boehly off. It's fair to assume the Blues have a greater transfer budget than Real and Liverpool, which could allow them to muscle in front.

No club in Europe spent more in the summer than Chelsea, who invested nearly £300m into their squad. Signings included Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Raheem Sterling, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Kalidou Koulibaly and Carney Chukwuemeka.

It's believed Boehley is determined to sign at least one young, highly-rated central midfielder next summer, with ex-academy star Declan Rice also said to be on their transfer shortlist. The West Ham man, 23, would also command a transfer fee in excess of £100m.

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