Exclusive: Major twist in Jude Bellingham saga with surprise club very confident about beating Liverpool, Real Madrid

There has been a major twist in the Jude Bellingham transfer chase as one shock team is growing in confidence about overcoming Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid, TEAMtalk understands.

Bellingham’s future continues to be one of the most talked about subjects in world football. The midfielder has proven himself to be one of the best players in the German Bundesliga, despite being only 19 years old.

Bellingham has also forced himself into Gareth Southgate’s England team, having won 24 caps and started in the recent Euro 2024 qualifying victories over Italy and Ukraine.

Borussia Dortmund would love to keep Bellingham at the Westfalenstadion, but this has looked increasingly unlikely amid interest from some major clubs.

Liverpool, City and Real are all laying the groundwork to sign Bellingham in the summer. On March 20, David Ornstein of The Athletic cast major doubt over whether the Birmingham City academy graduate would move to Liverpool, naming City and Real as more likely destinations.

But Bellingham’s prospective switch to Anfield has since been reignited by Fabrizio Romano. Plus, Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson has admitted it would be ‘amazing’ if Jurgen Klopp’s side won the race for him.

READ MORE: Liverpool ramp up pursuit of Bundesliga star who ‘ticks all the boxes’ to fill Klopp priority

Bellingham has yet to confirm whether he is going to stay at Dortmund or leave in a huge transfer. But in a significant twist, TEAMtalk understands Dortmund have never been more confident about him staying.

For much of the last 12 months, everyone has assumed he will be leaving in the summer to join one of his three main suitors. Liverpool, City and Real have all made compelling cases to Bellingham and his camp.

Dortmund in very strong position

However, it must be noted that Bellingham’s Dortmund contract runs until June 2025, so the German outfit are under no pressure to sell. And they won’t be letting him leave in the summer unless they get the right price, TEAMtalk has been told.

As things stand, they are demanding in excess of the €144m Barcelona paid for Ousmane Dembele in 2017. That works out at approximately £127m.

If Bellingham is to secure a transfer later this year, it will almost certainly be Dortmund’s club-record departure. And it is now up to Liverpool, City and Real to decide if they can afford this kind of money.

Meanwhile, a report claims Newcastle are preparing an ambitious swoop for a Liverpool defender.