Liverpool ‘confidence’ over Bellingham deal remains but rivals are ‘ones to watch’ in £100m fight

Liverpool have reportedly held ‘long-standing confidence’ that they will win the race to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.

The Reds have been working on a deal to recruit Bellingham over the past year.

He is under contract until 2025 but it is likely that he will leave Borussia Dortmund this summer as clubs around Europe attempt to sign him.

The teenager is one of the best young players in the world and he has developed brilliantly at Dortmund over the past couple of seasons.

Bellingham is known to be Liverpool’s top target ahead of this summer. They are expected to overhaul their midfield ahead of next season with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Miles all due to be out of contract later this year.

Liverpool are also being linked with Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Wolves’ Matheus Nunes but Bellingham is understood to be their main priority.

Earlier this month, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Liverpool are ‘increasingly unlikely’ to sign Bellingham this summer.

But Ben Jacobs is reporting that Liverpool have ‘absolutely not given up’, though Man City are ‘now the ones to watch’ in the coming weeks.

‘Dortmund don’t actually have to sell this summer, although suitors are pushing for a transfer at the end of the season. To succeed, it’s going to cost £100m+,’ Jacobs wrote for Caught Offside.

He added: ‘Liverpool have put in the most legwork to date, including developing close ties with Bellingham’s father Mark. And my understanding remains that Liverpool are not out the race. Liverpool’s budget will, however, be affected by a lack of Champions League football.

‘Jurgen Klopp really wants Bellingham, so Liverpool have absolutely not given up. And there has been a long-standing confidence that their project is the right fit. Unfortunately, this season hasn’t gone to plan, though, and that could yet have an impact, which is perhaps why other clubs’ chances are being talked up.

‘Liverpool have always been braced for another Premier League rival to seriously enter the race, and Manchester City are now the ones to watch. Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish have both told Bellingham to join. Bellingham is not necessarily swayed by what friends or teammates think, but every little bit of input only adds to the intrigue over a potential transfer. From what I am told, Bellingham will score his next move quite dispassionately – as Haaland did when he joined Manchester City.’

Jacobs also…