Chelsea, ahead of Real Madrid and Liverpool, leading the race to sign Jude Bellingham in the summer

Jude Bellingham-Borussia Dortmund

Chelsea, not Liverpool, Real Madrid or Manchester City, are leading the race for the signature of Jude Bellingham.

According to widely claimed reports, over the last couple of months, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder has generated a bidding war between Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester.

However, a new report has countered the widely held claims, instead reporting that Chelsea are indeed ahead of the other teams in the race for Bellingham’s signature. 

The Blues were thought to be very behind a clear leading pack, but have now emerged as the frontrunners. This is according to Spanish journalist Pacojo Delgado, who told Cadena Ser show Carrusel Mundial via Football365 that Chelsea are above all others in the race for Bellingham.

The journalist confirmed that Real Madrid and Premier League duo Liverpool and Manchester City hold an interest in Bellingham, who has informed Dortmund he would make a decision on his future after the World Cup.

Chelsea are said to be ahead of Real Madrid because they are willing to meet the asking price set by Dortmund. The Bundesliga side value Bellingham for £150million, a price that Real Madrid are unwilling to match, but which Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is reportedly willing to spend to get Bellingham.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has said that Bellingham’s soaring price tag in Qatar will make the owners of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Man City anxious. 

“Bellingham has the potential to do what none of them did because he has already become a World Cup star and it is inconceivable he will not be winning domestic titles and competing for the Champions League for the next 10 years,” Carragher wrote for The Telegraph.

“There will be only three people in the world watching Bellingham in Qatar and feeling anxious – Florentino Pérez, Sheikh Mansour and JW Henry.

“The owners of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool know they will be involved in an auction to get him.

“We are watching the career of a freakishly good talent unfolding. It is frightening how good Bellingham is.

“If you were to build the prototype modern midfielder, he would be it.

“He has the physique and athleticism of a 27-year-old Gerrard, and has all the attributes you want in a footballer – tackling, passing, assisting and scoring.”