Chelsea could soon be left no choice but to consider alternatives to Jude Bellingham as Manchester City's advantage is revealed. The 19-year-old midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League for a while now as he continues to impress for club and country.
Bellingham has been subject to long-term interest from the Blues, football.london understand. The west Londoners watched the England international during his time as an academy player at Birmingham City but, after failing to act on their interest, the German giants swooped in and signed the teenage sensation instead.
With Todd Boehly in the market for a new midfielder amid the uncertain futures of N'Golo Kante and Jorginho, Chelsea are one of several European giants keen to acquire Bellingham's services, according to The Athletic. But, the Blues could miss out again with Pep Guardiola's side believed to have a strong relationship with Dortmund.
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Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail has stated that it's likely Bellingham 'ends up' at the Etihad Stadium. And 'initial conversations' between City and the German giants have already taken place.
So, with that being said, football.london has taken a look at three primary alternatives to Bellingham if Chelsea can't land the teenage sensation.
Adrien Rabiot - FREE
According to French outlet L'Equipe, via GFFN, Rabiot asked to leave Juventus in June. The report stated that Manchester United and Newcastle joined Chelsea on the list of clubs interested in the France international's services.
And, according to Gazzetta, Chelsea have reignited their interest in Rabiot after speculation quietened down for a few weeks. He sees his contract expire at the end of the season so he could in the summer free of charge be acquired in the summer free of charge.
Rabiot is far from the most attractive option available but he'd be a good player to bolster the squad's depth.
Moises Caicedo - £68million
Caicedo was heavily linked with an exit from the Amex Stadium in the summer after impressing under Potter on the south coast. And, Chelsea said to be one of several clubs who could prise the 21-year-old away from Brighton in the near future.
The Ecuadorian, who reportedly has a £68million asking price, admitted that he would like to reunite with his former boss at Stamford Bridge. Having previously worked closely with Potter, he - naturally - becomes the most likely option.
But, having not yet tested himself on the European stage unlike his competitors, doubt is cast as to whether Caicedo will able to seamlessly slot into Chelsea's starting-eleven.
Declan Rice - £131million
Rice has been heavily linked with a return to Chelsea for some time now but a deal doesn't appear any easier to complete. In February, football.london understood that as far as West Ham side were concerned, nothing had changed and the 23-year-old was not for sale at any price.
It was believed that the club had no interest in letting their key man leave the club at any cost. He's under contract until 2024, with the Hammers holding a further one-year option to extend his deal until the summer of 2025. According to Fabrizio Romano, West Ham want almost €150million (£131million) for their captain.
For many fans, Rice would be the perfect option who covers all bases. Out of the three players mentioned here, he's probably the most versatile of the three options, giving Potter lots of freedom with team selection and rotation.
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