Football News: Borussia Dortmund plans to make Bellingham clubs’ highest paid player

According to reports, Jude Bellingham has been given a 150% wage increase to extend his contract at Borussia Dortmund. The 19-year-old is one of Europe's most sought-after midfielders ahead of the summer transfer window.

Premier League rivals Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea are all vying for his signature. Real Madrid has also been linked with him, yet a recent report suggests that they have now dropped out of the contest.

While at the moment, Man City appear to be at the front of the queue for Bellingham. A recent report also claimed that the Premier League champions are growing increasingly confident of signing Jude this summer.

Dortmund, on the other hand, are anxious to keep their star player for at least another season. Thus, BvB are said to be looking to offer him to a lucrative new contract which might give him second thoughts.

According to Bild, Dortmund has a "secret plan" to keep Bellingham at the club. This includes a 150% wage boost worth up to £13 million per year deal for the England international.

According to the source, if Bellingham agrees to stayat Dortmund, he will become the highest-paid player in the club's history his proposed new contract will include a £131 million release clause.

BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl claimed last month that they intend to keep Bellingham for "as long as possible," though he allowed that this could be "wishful thinking."

"Of course we're trying to keep Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund as long as possible,"

Kehl told Ruhr Nachrichten.

"He's an incredibly important player who has shown once again this season how he identifies with this club and makes the team better."

"Things develop due to market mechanisms. So of course, I have my thoughts and also have my wishful thinking. I can't say whether [Bellingham staying] will happen in the end."

"From Borussia Dortmund's point of view, the wishful thinking would be to keep a player of this quality at this club for as long as possible."

Kehl told reporters in a separate interview that Bellingham is "extremely pleased" with the German club.

"Jude feels very, very comfortable at Borussia Dortmund. But we still haven't had any new talks or received any offers for him. He still has two more years on his contract and is a very important piece of this team."

"We need Jude to achieve the objectives this season and we are glad that he is so focused on football and that there is no room for other matters in his head at the moment."

Bellingham has established himself as a prominent player at Dortmund after signing from boyhood club Birmingham City in 2020, scoring 20 goals and registering 24 assists in 124 games across all competitions.

The Englishman is hoping to complete the season with a Bundesliga trophy, as Dortmund now sit atop the table, one point ahead of holders Bayern Munich, whom they meet at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

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