Newcastle to challenge Real Madrid and Liverpool for Jude Bellingham

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 3 Feb 2023 08:48 GMT
• 3 min read

Newcastle have reportedly joined the race to sign England midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund next summer.

Bellingham has emerged as one of the most in-demand players in world football, one of the first names on Gareth Southgate's England teamsheet who has already captained Dortmund in the Champions League at the tender age of 19.

Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City are thought to be the three clubs at the front of the queue for Bellingham's signature, and Bellingham's father Mark - a non-league goalscorer of quite some aplomb - was reportedly in talks with the Reds in January.

READ: Dortmund offer Bellingham club-record contract to fend off Man City, Liverpool and Real Madrid

But now reports in Germany suggest that Newcastle are ready to throw their ring into the hat.

"Bellingham has a decision to make and one thing is clear: staying at Dortmund is no longer an issue for him, despite the fact he identifies with the club," report SportBild.

"Real Madrid, in particular, have once again identified a great need in midfield, [but] Newcastle United and now trying to get into a game of poker with the big four clubs."

READ: Anthony Gordon can be Newcastle's £45m golden boy

Could Bellingham end up at Newcastle?

Bild don't report on Newcastle's chances of turning Bellingham's head, but unlike Real, they are based in the player's native England, and they are on the up this season, unlike Liverpool and, arguably, Man City.

The Magpies' current record signing is former Dortmund man Alexander Isak, who arrived from Real Sociedad for €70m last summer, but they could have to double that if they are to acquire Bellingham.

Dortmund fully intend to achieve a club record sale in Bellingham next summer, with the English youngster rated at around €140m by them - and €87.6m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm.

They could likely afford it too. The Toon have kept their purse strings relatively tight since their Saudi takeover in October 2021, but they remain the richest club in the world as a result.