Manchester United are facing serious competition in the race to sign Birmingham City teenager Jude Belllingham, with Chelsea among those to have registered an interest.
MEN Sport understands Bellingham has held talks with the Stamford Bridge club, as well as Borussia Dortmund, after it was revealed United chiefs gave the 16-year-old and his family a tour of their Carrington training ground on Monday.
It has been suggested Birmingham could ask for as much as £50million for the teen midfielder, who has become a regular in the Blues' Championship side this season and is attracting huge interest.
United were keen on bringing Bellingham to Old Trafford in the January transfer window as they sought to bolster a midfield that saw Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini depart in 2019. United completed the capture of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon for £47million plus add-ons late in the January window, but remain committed to further midfield signings. Jack Grealish and James Maddison remain among their targets for the summer transfer window.
Bellingham is seen as a great fit for United's transfer strategy, which last summer was to target young, homegrown players with huge potential.
But Chelsea also rate the 16-year-old highly as they continue to invest in youth. Bellingham could play alongside fellow midfield youngsters Billy Gilmour and Mason Mount in Frank Lampard's young side next season, while Borussia Dortmund are also understood to have met Bellingham's family in recent weeks, with his father acting as his agent.
The dynamic midfielder does not turn 17 until June and already has 25 starts and seven substitute appearances in the Championship to his name this season, scoring four goals and laying on two assists in Pep Clotet's mid-table Birmingham side.
United signed Daniel James for an initial £15million from Championship side Swansea last summer and could again delve into the English second tier for an up-and-coming signing.
The summer transfer window officially opens on June 10th, though United's transfer search is already well underway.
