Borussia Dortmund could move to offer Jude Bellingham a new contract at Signal Iduna Park in an attempt to ‘protect his value’, amid strong speculation of a departure, according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.
The 19-year-old made the move to Dortmund for €35 million in the summer of 2020 and the Bundesliga outfit could be set to make a huge profit.
What is the latest on Bellingham?
According to The Sun, Dortmund could be prepared to accept an offer of just £83 million for their prized asset next summer, if the fee is paid in one lump sum.
The report adds that Manchester City are convinced they will win the race for the former Birmingham City star’s signature, although Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are all interested too.
Football Insider have previously claimed that Jurgen Klopp and co. have been making progress in their attempts to tie up an agreement before the next summer window opens for business.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are understood to be putting plans in place to beat the Premier League contingent to Bellingham's services.
What has Jacobs said on Dortmund’s plans?
Jacobs understands that Edin Terzic's side could yet look to tie Bellingham down to a new deal in order to protect his value next summer.
The CBS reporter told GIVEMESPORT: “The other thing that could be interesting is Dortmund are not ruling out providing Bellingham with a new contract offer, and people will scoff at that and say, ‘well, he's never going to sign,’ but it can be mutually beneficial.
“If Bellingham signs a new deal, he'll still know that he's going in the summer of 2023, which is my understanding. But, from Dortmund’s point of view, signing a new deal protects the value. Then from the player's point of view, what does the new deal add? It gives you that extra pay packet. So then when all of these suitors negotiate, they're suddenly in a position where they have to pay top dollar to Dortmund and they have to pay a top wage to Bellingham.
“Again, some may argue that he's going to get top wage anyway. But if Dortmund increase that wage to something extraordinarily high, then it benefits his agents and Bellingham because he's going to be one of the best paid youngsters in the Premier League or La Liga or wherever he moves and that could be a factor as well. Of course, Dortmund can afford to do that, if they know that whatever they're paying him under the new deal is only effectively going to be enforced between January and the summer.”
Have Dortmund done anything else to tempt him to stay?
While some of the world’s biggest clubs are targeting his services, Dortmund will not let Bellingham leave without a fight.
They recently showed how highly they value the player by making him captain in recent clashes domestically and in Europe.
Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has previously told GiveMeSport that this could be an attempt from the club to convince him to stay at Signal Iduna Park.
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