Man Utd end interest in ‘too risky’ Bellingham over Pogba repeat fears; £62m ‘Plan B’ identified

Man Utd have ended their interest in signing Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham over the cost of a potential deal, according to reports.

The Red Devils, like many of their Premier League rivals, are looking to bring in a top midfielder in the summer transfer market, although a new striker is believed to be top of their list of priorities.

Christian Eriksen and Casemiro are proving to be shrewd acquisitions for the club with the duo helping them play to their potential this season, while Marcel Sabitzer has proved a useful loan signing from Bayern Munich in January.

Erik ten Hag currently has Man Utd in the top four in the Premier League with the Red Devils winning the Carabao Cup earlier this year, while the Dutchman has a good chance of bringing more silverware to Old Trafford before the end of the season with the club still competing in the FA Cup and Europa League.

And he will be hoping he can nail it again in the summer transfer window too with funds likely to be available whether Man Utd get taken over or not.

Bellingham is one player the club have been taking a serious interest in with Man Utd attempting to sign the England international before he moved to Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham City in 2020.

But Spanish publication Nacional claim that Man Utd consider Bellingham ‘too risky an investment’ in the summer despite having ‘no doubts about the talent and potential of the 19-year-old midfielder’.

Instead, Man Utd still have a fear of spending huge fees on one midfielder after they brought Paul Pogba back to the club in 2016 for £89m, with the France international failing to live up to his price tag for the majority of his time at Old Trafford.

There is trepidation that, with Bellingham being valued at around £130m, the England international could have a ‘very big problem’ paying Man Utd back in performances.

And that is why the Red Devils have ‘started to think about a Plan B’ with Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella understood to be the next man on their list.

Barella is seen as ‘very convincing’ for Ten Hag as he is ‘more experience in the elite’ and ‘has established himself as one of the best on the planet in his position’.

Serie A giants Inter Milan have ‘valued him at around €70m (£62m)’ which Nacional reckon is ‘much more reasonable’ than the asking price for Bellingham.

The Red Devils’ arch-rivals Liverpool have also pulled out of the race to sign Bellingham with Jurgen Klopp…