Manchester City are interested in Jude Bellingham and Pep Guardiola began the charm offensive with positive comments in the media weeks ago, but Danny Murphy believes the Borussia Dortmund midfielder would be better off avoiding City as ‘he probably wouldn’t play’ due to stiff competition for places.
He said on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan: “The difference is if he went to City, for example, you could argue at the minute that he probably wouldn’t play.” Guardiola currently has Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan at his disposal in midfield, but Bellingham could force his way into the side.
The 19-year-old has three years remaining on his deal at the Westfalenstadion but has growing interest in his signature after impressing in Germany. Bellingham may cost around £130m this summer, but it remains to be seen if City are willing to smash their transfer record for the second time in two years (£100m for Jack Grealish in 2021).
Bellingham joined Dortmund from Birmingham City in 2020 and has gone on to make 112 appearances in all competitions, scoring 19 goals with 21 assists. This season, the England international has nine goals with three assists from 22 games, so he’s really coming of age.
Gundogan is out of contract in the summer of 2023 and Silva has been linked with a move to Barcelona, so City might have a void to fill in midfield next season.
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