By George Overhill

9th Nov, 2022 | 3:59pm

Jude Bellingham: Growing belief he will move to Manchester City - Daily Mail

Jude Bellingham will most likely move to Manchester City when he leaves Borussia Dortmund with talks already held at the Etihad, the Daily Mail reports.

The England star is a target for virtually all the top teams in Europe and is reportedly unlikely to see out his deal in Germany.

While a summer move might come too soon, there is now a “growing belief” that he will head to the Etihad next, following in the footsteps of Erling Haaland who made the move this summer and has taken the Premier League by storm.

The Mail reported on Wednesday (9 November): “There is a growing belief, according to those with knowledge of the situation, that Jude Bellingham’s next club will be Manchester City.

“Sportsmail understands that the Premier League champions, along with a number of key rivals at home and abroad, are keen on taking the 19-year-old midfielder from Borussia Dortmund.

“And they are now being viewed as the likely winners of what would be a major transfer battle – with Liverpool another side interested in the England star.

“Relations between City and Dortmund are strong, following Erling Haaland’s summer switch between the two, and initial conversations have been held at City’s end.”

Ominous

There was a Europe-wide scramble or Haaland for well over a year before City took charge of the situation and it became inevitable they would get their man.

For all the other sides who want Bellingham the latest report has a worrying similarity, which considering Pep Guardiola has captured four of the past five Premier League titles is an ominous sign for their rivals.

Bellingham is arguably the number one transfer target in world football currently, with it seen as certain that he leaves Dortmund sooner or later.

A strong World Cup, where he has a good chance of starting for Gareth Southgate’s side, is sure to increase his price even further than the huge sum he will already command.

It is at the expense of this summer’s headline midfield signing at the Etihad, Kalvin Phillips, that Bellingham is likely to be in the XI, with the former Leeds man struggling so far this season with injury.

Rodri is already in place and the massive fee it would require to sign the teenage superstar could mean that his England colleague’s City career never really gets off the ground.

There is a long way to go but the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea look to have their work cut out to force themselves back into the race to sign Bellingham.

In other Manchester City news, the club are looking to swoop for Chelsea youngster Jude Soonsup-Bell.