After months of speculation, we finally think we know where teenage sensation Jude Bellingham will be headed this summer.
It has been widely reported that the Birmingham City midfielder has been tipped to join Borussia Dortmund for around £20million, having spurned advances from Manchester United. 90min recently exclusively reported that even a visit to United’s training facilities and an offer to give the player’s younger brother Jobe a place in their academy was not enough to sign him.
Instead, he would be moved to Die Schwarzenegger, who praised his ability to develop young talent such as countryman Jadon Sancho, as well as the Bundesliga side eyeing him for more regular game time. provided more opportunity than
Dortmund are set to win the race to sign Jude Bellingham and have been edged out by United. ?
— 90 Minutes (@90min_Football) June 23, 2020
It’s a huge win for Dortmund, who have snapped up another of Europe’s brightest young talents to add to their growing collection, which currently includes Erling Haaland, Gio Reina and Sancho. The club has developed a reputation for being an excellent stable for youth development and growth, although players often move on after a few years.
Yes, they will have to pay a hefty fee for him – but they will see it as a bargain, given Bellingham’s potential to become a world-class box-to-box midfielder. After all, if you buy three players for £20m and one of them becomes an £80m player that you sell a few years later, jackpot.
So while Man Utd fans take to Twitter to bemoan their inability to sign another young talent, Dortmund supporters have plenty to be excited about – both the present and the future of the club. Is.
Jude Bellingham to Dortmund is a done deal. Have we missed a future star here? https://t.co/sJaaDOWwOF
— Mick United ?⚪⚫ (@LadMick) July 2, 2020
Since making his debut in August 2019 – becoming Birmingham’s youngest ever first-team player in the process at the age of 16 – Bellingham has continued to improve rapidly, and has shown that his The pass is what he needs to achieve at the highest level.
The Englishman is very much in the mold of a classic box-to-box midfielder, and is effective at both ends of the pitch – yet he is actually deployed on the left wing of a 4-4-2 formation. Despite being a medium, right-footed player.
He is not one to waste possession, and can be relied upon to distribute the ball, which is reflected in his 77% success rate in the Championship this season. The 17-year-old isn’t afraid to take on his opponents either, finishing just outside the top ten for successful dribbles by central midfielders in the second tier.
At the defensive end, he has made the eighth most tackles of all central midfielders in the Championship, also highlighting his willingness to ‘do the dirty work’ in the middle of the park.
Judd Bellingham p90 in the Championship this season:
32.5 pass
3.1 tackles won.
2.6 Take-Ons
1.8 fouls won.
0.9 key passes
0.3G/A
17 today. ? pic.twitter.com/1ghrlyTuz0
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) June 29, 2020
If there’s anything he could improve on, it’s his physical strength and decision-making – but those are things that come with age. Fortunately, he has yet to deal with any injuries in his short career, and throughout the season Pep Clotet has handled his minutes well.
The Spanish manager has sought to bring a counter-attacking, fast-paced style of football to the Midlands, and Bellingham’s energetic, versatile style makes him a perfect fit in his tactical system. Whether asked to play a ball-winning role from deep, or pushed further up to help create for his teammates, the 17-year-old excelled for the mid-table side. Is.
He would likely be the perfect fit for Dortmund, whose manager Lucian Favre has emphasized a fast-paced, all-out attacking brand of football, with his players expected to create turnovers. Will move quickly from defense to attack when forced. But it’s also worth noting that Favre has sometimes been criticized for being too open at the back. conceding more times than the Bundesliga’s top four this season.
Lucian Favre likes to play with a central midfield duo / Poole / Getty Images
Given Bellingham’s comfort with the ball and his strong defensive skills, he is likely to be a perfect fit for Dortmund’s fast-paced style of play. Daniel Dodds, the English FA’s former talent identification manager for under-15 to under-17 players, has heaped praise on the youngster, telling The Athletic earlier this year that the youngster has ‘the technical level to succeed at the top’. Everything’ is needed.
“He’s got everything. The way he moves; his technical ability. He’s incredibly bright in terms of football intelligence, tactical ability, tactical knowledge, knowing what to do. To do, where to be. As good as I’ve ever seen, relaxed.”
-Daniel Dodds, then FA Talent ID Manager
With Dortmund likely to continue playing in a 3-4-3 formation next season, Favre relies heavily on his central midfield duo, who play in deeper positions and are tasked with winning back possessions. before they moved to support the front. Three more attack-minded wing-backs.
Given Dortmund’s defensive fragility at times, he was instrumental in helping the Bundesliga club avoid being caught out on the break. The pair are seen as the vital link between defense and attack, helping to ensure they are not outnumbered at either end of the pitch, particularly at the back.
Emre Can’s defensive work is key to ensuring Dortmund are able to move quickly / Maja Hattage / Getty Images
Bellingham would fit well in his box-to-box role with the more physical presence of Emre Can or Axel Witsel, who could help him carry out his defensive duties. The fast-paced nature of the Bundesliga suggests his ball-stopping skills will be key to sparking the attack for his teammates.
Further forward, his ability to push forward will be crucial. With Julian Brandt being Dortmund’s top-scoring midfielder with seven goals (Witzl is next), the 17-year-old could further develop his finishing game to become a ten-goal-per-season threat at the Westphalian Stadium. Is.
Of course, it’s hard to imagine the Englishman being an automatic starter for Die Schwarzgelben at the start of the 2020/21 season. He will most likely have to bide his time, as Sancho and Reina did at the start of their stay in Germany, and train well to make appearances off the bench.
Bellingham will have to wait for his chance / Kathryn Ivel / Getty Images
And with the experience of a completely different game to the Bundesliga championship, it will take time for him to adapt to the pace and high-pressure style with which his teams play.
But given his current impressive abilities, as well as his huge potential, there’s no doubt that Bellingham will be a fantastic player for Dortmund in the years to come, with fans very excited.