Liverpool are reportedly becoming increasingly confident of winning the race to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.
The 19-year-old has been in impressive form for Dortmund since his arrival from Birmingham City in 2020, contributing 10 goals and 18 assists in 90 appearances for the club in all competitions.
The England international scored six goals and provided 14 assists in 44 appearances in all competitions last term, and a number of the leading clubs in world football are thought to be keen to sign him.
Real Madrid and Manchester United are both believed to be planning moves next summer, but Liverpool have also been heavily linked with the midfielder over the last few months.
Dortmund will not be selling Bellingham during the current window, but there have been claims that he will be on the move ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
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According to Football Insider, Liverpool are confident of winning the race for the youngster and could come to an agreement with Dortmund during the January transfer window.
The report claims that Bellingham could even more to Anfield at the start of the year, although it is more likely that he would join Jurgen Klopp's side ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Liverpool allegedly had fresh talks over the deal for the teenager last week and are now in a strong position to sign him despite interest from a number of other leading European clubs.
The Reds are believed to be prepared to pay €100m (£85m) to sign the former Birmingham youngster, while Real Madrid are thought to be willing to commit to a €90m (£76.5m) deal for 2023.
Bellingham scored three times and registered eight assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances during the 2021-22 campaign, in addition to playing six times in the Champions League.
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Earlier this month, Liverpool boss Klopp insisted that his side would not be signing a new midfielder before the end of the transfer window.
"There is no need for a new midfielder. We cannot just add on midfielders. We respect the contracts with our boys as well, that means as long as we signed them they get all our support – in training, between the sessions, during the games and between the games," Klopp told reporters.
"That is the situation we have; really, you can count our midfielders. If you go through, the quality of the players we have is really, really high."
Liverpool have brought in three new players during the current transfer window, signing Calvin Ramsay, Fabio Carvalho and Darwin Nunez.
Bellingham was also involved for England during their UEFA Nations League fixtures in June, and he is in a strong position to make the Three Lions squad for the 2022 World Cup.
Matt Law
