Real Madrid have reportedly selected Jude Bellingham of BvB and Josko Gvardiol of RB Leipzig as their main targets this summer. Before the 2023–24 season, Bellingham is expected to rank among the most in-demand midfielders.
Thus, a number of elite European clubs, notably Los Blancos are eager to secure his services. The 19-year-old has become a great player at Dortmund during his nearly three-year stay in Germany.
So far, Bellingham has registered 20 goals and 24 assists in 120 appearances across all competitions. Apart from the Spanish giants, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea are all interested in the midfield.
Meanwhile, speculations suggest Dortmund are hoping to hang onto the midfielder for “as long as possible” given his current deal expires in June 2025.
“Of course we’re trying to keep Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund as long as possible,”
BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl told Ruhr Nachrichten.
“He’s an incredibly important player who has shown once again this season how he identifies with this club and makes the team better.”
While Toni Kroos, 33, and Luka Modric, 37, have both stated a wish to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, they have not yet extended their contracts, which expire in June this year.
Madrid in pursuit of Bellingham & Gvardiol
Sport reports that Florentino Perez, club president of Real Madrid, “wants to revolutionise the transfer market. And this can be done by spending significant money to add Bellingham and Leipzig defender Gvardiol to Ancelotti’s roster.
Gvardiol is another player who has emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young players.
The 2022 World Cup third-place finisher for Croatia has already made 73 appearances for Leipzig in all competitions, and he has Champions League and Bundesliga experience.
Left-footed defender Nacho Fernandez, 33, whose contract with Real Madrid expires in the summer, is seen to be a potential replacement by the Spanish club.
Similar to Bellingham, Los Blancos will likely face stiff competition to sign Gvardiol because Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United are all rumored to be interested in him.
Although Gvardiol recently voiced a desire to play in the Premier League, Leipzig manager Marco Rose has downplayed rumours of the defender leaving this summer.
“Josko Gvardiol will be an RB Leipzig player next season,”
Rose told reporters last week.
“I am the coach and I am asking for that. He is happy here. He said he wants to play in the Premier League but he didn’t say when.”
Gvardiol is reportedly bound to Leipzig until June 2027 and has a €110 million (£96.9 million) release clause in his contract that runs out in 2024, while Bellingham is reportedly valued at €150 million (£132 million) by Dortmund.
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