Bellingham development sees Man Utd close in on £100m double deal

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is reportedly willing to spend £100million to sign Jude Bellingham and Jack Grealish this summer.

The Red Devils have already opened talks with Bellingham, who has traveled to United’s Carrington training base on Monday to meet senior club officials, including Woodward and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He reportedly spent several hours at the complex with his parents before leaving, as reported in the Daily Express.

The 16-year-old is being monitored by several clubs across Europe, including United, Liverpool and Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

Bellingham currently earns a reported £145-a-week at St Andrew’s, as he is on an academy wage, and is expected to sign a lucrative first professional contract when he turns 17 on June 29.

Birmingham had hoped the talented youngster would stay but this now seems highly unlikely given the status of the clubs who are interested in signing him.

The Red Devils tried to sign Bellingham for £25m in January but that bid was rejected by Birmingham, and according to the Daily Star, United are now set to return with a £30m bid in the summer.

 

 

Meanwhile, United’s other summer transfer target is Aston Villa star Jack Grealish.

The report adds that Woodward is willing to pay £70m to sign the Villa talisman in the summer.

Grealish is having a fantastic season, despite being in the midst of a relegation battle with the club, with Villa currently 19th in the table after a 4-0 thumping at Leicester onMonday night.

The 24-year-old has scored nine goals and provided eight assists in 31 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Grealish signed a new £50,000-a-week five-year deal with Villa last year, but unlike his previous contract this one doesn’t include a buyout clause and leaves Villa able to demand a higher fee for their star man.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to bolster his midfield, with Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard both expected to leave this summer, while Juan Mata is in the latter stages of his career.

But one midfielder staying put in youngster Tahith Chong, who has penned a new Old Trafford contract.