Liverpool have reportedly come forward with an official bid for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.
The 19-year-old is expected to be at the centre of an intense transfer tussle in the summer of 2023 after Dortmund managed to retain his services for the current season.
Bellingham has gone from strength to strength at the Westfalenstadion since joining from Birmingham City in the summer of 2020, and he has already made 100 appearances for BVB.
The England international - who has also become a mainstay of Gareth Southgate's England squad - has scored 13 goals and set up 18 more in all competitions for Edin Terzic's side in that time.
Bellingham has won one DFB-Pokal with Dortmund and is not due to become a free agent until the summer of 2025, but the Black and Yellow are widely expected to sanction a sale at the end of the season.
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Liverpool are considered one of the frontrunners for Bellingham's signature, and a recent report claimed that Dortmund would accept £83m if the entire fee was paid upfront.
Now, Marca - via Paisley Gates - claims that Liverpool have presented an offer for the teenager as they seek to fend off competition from the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.
However, the report adds that Jurgen Klopp's side are not the favourites to sign Bellingham, as the former Birmingham youngster is instead holding out for a move to Real Madrid.
The La Liga and Champions League holders lost Casemiro to Man United in the summer and will soon be on the lookout for successors to Luka Modric, who turns 38 next year and is out of contract at the end of the season.
Toni Kroos is also due to become a free agent in 2023, and while the Germany international is said to be in line for a contract extension, Carlo Ancelotti will still endeavour to boost his midfield options.
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Bellingham is supposedly willing to rebuff all attempts from Premier League clubs to bring him back to his homeland, and Real have been in contact regarding a move next summer after convincing the midfielder not to sign fresh terms at Dortmund.
Liverpool lost out on the signature of Aurelien Tchouameni to Real Madrid in the most recent window and also failed to prise Gavi away from Barcelona, with the 18-year-old recently signing a new long-term deal at Camp Nou.
Following a wave of injuries in midfield, Liverpool secured the capture of Juventus' Arthur on transfer deadline day, but they are not expected to take up their £33.7m option to make his stay permanent.
As a result, Klopp is pulling out all the stops for his side to sign Bellingham, but Real Madrid currently have the upper hand and are also benefited by their strong relations with Dortmund.
Ancelotti's side can reportedly expect to be quoted as much as €150m (£135m) to sign Bellingham, who is expected to start for England in Monday's UEFA Nations League clash with Germany at Wembley.
Ben Knapton
