Manchester United appear to be edging closer to a deal for Jude Bellingham, the teenage Birmingham City sensation.
Bellingham, 16, was pictured at the club’s training ground on Monday afternoon with his parents and it is understood they met United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and transfer negotiator Matt Judge.
Speculation has been rife regarding the player’s future following his superb breakthrough campaign for the Championship club, with Liverpool another Premier League side said to be interested.
Borussia Dortmund have also recently been linked with a move for the England Under-17 ace, but it appears United are going all out to sign him and The Sun report legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson was called to the training ground to meet him.
The United chiefs were later pictured leaving Carrington shortly after Bellingham’s dad, Mark, was seen driving away from the ground.
Bellingham, likened to Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, became the youngest ever scorer and youngest to appear for the Blues this season – smashing the previous 49-year record set by England legend Trevor Francis – and fits the profile of the type of player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to bring to United.
Solskjaer is keen to develop young, hungry, homegrown talent and, having brought in Daniel James, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka last summer, now Bellingham is in his sights.
Old Trafford deal-makers will have to fork out a large sum of money for the midfielder, however, with Birmingham demanding a fee in the region of £50million for his services.
He currently earns just £145-a-week and he is not officially allowed to sign with any clubs until he turns 17 in June.
Birmingham boss Pep Clotet recently said he would support Bellingham in any way possible as speculation continues to rise over his future.
“I am happy to support Jude and I think we are doing something good not only for Birmingham but for English football.
“He is very grounded. His family have done a fantastic job on him and we are working together to make sure it stays like this and his mentality stays the same.
“All the lads in the locker room are now keeping him grounded.
“He has been massive for us the whole season.”
Speaking to talkSPORT in January, former Birmingham and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant, who made the Steven Gerrard comparison, said it would be hard for the player to turn down the move, though warned against it.
“My advice to him would be to stay at Birmingham for another season, or at least for the rest of this season. Continue playing, keep playing first-team football, demanding football and it will do wonders for his career moving forward.
“Rather than moving to Man United and hitting a brick wall, going from playing every week to just floating about training and wondering when he’s going to play.”
