Jude Bellingham has options, but with Liverpool out of the race which is most appealing?

An unusual and frankly welcome development from Merseyside in the past 24 hours, where Liverpool have killed their interminable summer transfer saga while it is still spring.

Jude Bellingham, the assumed saviour of Jürgen Klopp’s creaking midfield, will apparently not be heading to Anfield this summer, with the club turning their attentions to non-union English equivalents like Mason Mount, Conor Gallgher and Jonjo Shelvey. Possibly not the last one.

With a transfer fee of at least £115 million required and six figures in wages every week there will not be dozens of clubs able to afford Bellingham, but his performances in the yellow of Borussia Dortmund suggest he could slot in comfortably to any of the world’s elite teams.

So where now for the most-wanted man in European football? Let us assess his options and rate how interested Bellingham would be to start next season with each.

Manchester City

No real need for Bellingham if the re-invention of John Stones as Barnsley’s answer to Toni Kroos continues at its current pace, but Ilkay Giundogan seems minded to leave at the end of this campaign and Bellingham seems a better bet to replace him than Kalvin Phillips. May fancy making a bigger splash elsewhere instead of becoming a cog in Pep Guardiola’s magnificent winning machine, but few clubs are better equipped to deliver trophies.

Jude appeal: 8/10

Real Madrid

Seem fairly well-stocked in Bellingham’s positions already with a good blend of youth in Aurélien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga plus experience: Luka Modric, actual Toni Kroos. But logic and careful planning have not always been to the fore with Real’s transfer strategy. May be where Bellingham sees himself eventually, with this next move a premium stepping stone to the final destination of the Bernabéu.

Jude appeal: 8/10

Manchester United

Balance sheet probably bolstered by return of Champions League money next season and still have a need for an all-action midfielder to share the load of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. Uneven form of Jadon Sancho, United’s last gifted English signing from Dortmund, may give Bellingham some pause, but team does seem to be moving in the right direction at last under Erik Ten Hag. Ownership uncertainty counts against them.

Story continues

Jude appeal: 7/10

Paris Saint-Germain

Never met an A-list footballer they did not like, so shall probably play their part in the race. May be facing a rebuilding job with Lionel Messi’s future uncertain, Kylain Mbappé terminally flirting with Real Madrid and Neymar trending in the wrong direction. Will have a more compelling financial package then most, probably all of their rivals. But seem further from Champions League glory than ever and does Bellingham’s heart sing at the prospect of Ligue 1 and away days against Lorient and Reims?

Jude appeal: 6/10

Chelsea

Players! More players! Get that squad up to a healthy 70, then maybe we can break their way into the Europa Conference League next season! Need a replacement for N’Golo Kanté and do seem to be operating as if they checked their bank balance and saw only an infinity symbol. So will probably be interested, but whether Bellingham fancies their prospects is another matter entirely.

Jude appeal: 4/10

Borussia Dortmund

Has a contract, for whatever that is worth, until summer 2025 so could happily stay for another year with a team still in with a chance of beating Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga (stop chortling at the back). May choose to continue his rapid development in an environment where he clearly thrives and return to the market next summer.

Jude appeal: 8/10