Exclusive – Borussia Dortmund are preparing to offer a new contract to English midfielder Jude Bellingham as a reward for his meteoric rise this season.
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After signing him for around £ 25m last summer, Dortmund had high expectations of Bellingham, but even those at Signal Iduna Park have been stunned by how much he has grown as a player in his debut season.
Bellingham is now a novice Pool / Getty Images
Bellingham have commanded a regular place in the starting line-up at club level and he is expected to be part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championships, and sources have confirmed for 90 minutes that Dortmund are keen to reward the teenager with a new bumper-new deal that could take his salary against £ 100,000 per week.
As his contract will enter into the last two years this summer, Dortmund are aware that clubs around Europe are taking the situation into account. Many Premier League clubs have asked about the possibility of bringing Bellingham back to England at the end of this season, but Dortmund are not interested at all.
“Jude has the right attitude, always gives his all, works perfectly for his team,” director Sebastian Kehl recently told Kicker. “And he is already taking responsibility. We are therefore very pleased with his development during his first season at Borussia Dortmund.”
Bellingham are expected to play for England in Euro | Michael Regan / Getty Images
Dortmund intend to give Bellingham the chance to double their salaries and extend their stay at the club, and the 17-year-old is perceived as more than happy to put pen to paper on new terms.
Moving to Germany has given Bellingham the chance to play level football at a high level at such an early stage of his career, and despite the team’s struggle this season, the midfielder feels as if Dortmund are the best place for him to continue his development.
Dortmund are facing a battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League. They are currently fifth in the Bundesliga standings, but with just two points separating Edin Terzic’s side and third place Wolfsburg, the door to Europe’s biggest competition is open.
Bellingham’s development has been a bright spot in Dortmund’s season Mika Volkmann / Getty Images
Missing the Champions League could very well lead to an emigration in the club, with Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, Julian Brandt and Emre Can among the players who arouse great interest from elsewhere, but Dortmund are determined that Bellingham will get nowhere.
Releasing some of these players would free up the money to give Bellingham such a big contract, while Dortmund will also reduce their salary budget when veteran defenders Lukasz Piszczek and Marcel Schmelzer leave when their contracts expire this summer.
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