One of the many teams interested in Jude Bellingham is Arsenal.
According to The Athletic, the Borussia Dortmund and England sensation is “admired by Arsenal’s recruitment department” but who isn’t?
The competition for his signature is fierce, with Premier League rivals Liverpool and European giants Real Madrid seemingly the front-runners.
The Bundesliga outfit are thought to believe he is worth as much as €150m (£130m), so he isn’t going to come cheap either but if sporting director Edu Gaspar can do the unthinkable, then he could well stun the rest of Europe with this seismic raid.
It goes without saying but Bellingham would be absolutely perfect for Mikel Arteta’s project at the Emirates Stadium – young, athletic, homegrown with bags of potential.
Imagining the 19-year-old wonderkid as one of the two no.8s in this current tactical system is the stuff of dreams for much of the Gunners faithful but say they go on to win the league, then anything could happen – they are some way clear of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds as things stand.
Bellingham has been in electric form for club and country over the past year – so far this season, he has already bagged nine goals and laid on three assists, as well as finding the net in England’s World Cup opener against Iran.
What makes the teenager the “generational talent” that he has been dubbed by journalist Raphael Honigstein is the fact that he can do everything, those attacking returns are a mere speck on his statistical profile.
Indeed, a total of 87 tackles and interceptions combined and an average of 5.1 progressive passes, via FBref, for Dortmund this term is a testament to that immense quality.
Also hailed as a “phenom” by CBS Sports’ Vivek Jacob and a “monster” by Arsenal’s emerging talent scout Lewis Kinsella, there’s no denying that Bellingham is one of the best young players on the planet right now.
Arsenal could really head into a new era under Arteta if the club were to splash out on the Dortmund gem, though it could be made even better if they fix their striking woes at the same time.
The Athletic also link the north London giants with a move for Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix, who could leave the LaLiga side on loan for around €15m (£13m), so the club wouldn’t have to pay over the odds on top of the £130m for Bellingham.
The Poruguese’s versatility to play most attacking positions not only aids Arteta in finding a solution to Gabriel Jesus’ long-term injury absence but he can also fit in wherever required, thus allowing someone like Gabriel Martinelli to play through the middle.
Felix continued his own impressive form in Qatar by scoring in the Mattress Makers’ first game back, a 2-0 win over Elche CF on December 29th.
As such, Edu must look to shock Europe by landing an incredible double swoop – just imagine Bellingham and Felix alongside the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and the aforementioned Brazilians.
It’s a mouthwatering prospect but one that would need many factors to swing in their favour between now and the end of the season.
source: https://www.footballfancast.com/
