Real Madrid believe they have won the £100m-plus race to sign Bellingham in a blow to ‘desperate’ Liverpool

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Real Madrid is confident of beating Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea by signing Jude Bellingham, according to reports.

The 19-year-old produced World Cup glory for England and started every game as the Three Lions eventually exited in the quarter-finals to France.

Even before the tournament, Bellingham had been attracting interest from many clubs across Europe, and that has only catapulted to another level since his performance in Qatar.

The latest noise suggested Liverpool were leading the race to sign Bellingham, with Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk claiming earlier this month that the Reds were ‘very close’ to agreeing a deal for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.

Chelsea also love Bellingham, while Manchester United keep their ‘door open’ should there be a chance he comes to Old Trafford – but Liverpool’s biggest competition comes from Real Madrid.

And now The Sun claims Real Madrid “believe they have won the race to sign ‘Bellingham in the summer’ in a deal worth over £100m.

There were also rumors of interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain with Bellingham’s choice of clubs, but Los Blancos ‘became increasingly confident that Bellingham would ignore a move to the Premier League and switch heavily to Spain next summer’.

The Sun described Liverpool as “desperate to sign him” and manager Jurgen Klopp seems to believe Bellingham will “soon become the best midfielder in the world”.

Man City feel “they are not out of the running and are expected to raise their bid for Bellingham” but “they knew wages weren’t important to Bellingham – just how the move would benefit him footballingly”.

While on international duty at the World Cup, The Sun claimed that “Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson told the lad about the merits of appearing for the Reds” and Gary Neville believes this is likely true.

“when I was in [England] Camp 15 years ago, I was getting close to it [Wayne] Rooney, is close to Rio Ferdinand,” Neville told Sky Sports News earlier this month. “Now you see Phil Foden next to Judd Bellingham, you see Trent Alexander-Arnold walking him, you see Jordan Henderson hugging him at the end of the game.

And you think ‘you sneaky little guys, I know what you’re trying to do so much.

This is the truth at this moment. [Bellingham] They are more likely to go to Liverpool and Manchester City, just because of where they are and what they do.”

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