Manchester United are reportedly gearing up to table an offer for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham in the forthcoming January transfer window. The apparent interest follows United’s lacklustre beginning to the season, reminiscent of their erratic 2024/25 campaign, which saw them languishing at 15th under Ruben Amorim’s debut term at the club.
However, the tide seems to be turning for Amorim, who, despite being under intense scrutiny, has witnessed his side clinch three consecutive victories over Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton. These wins have propelled the Red Devils to sixth in the Premier League table after nine encounters, instilling a renewed sense of optimism.
With the January transfer window looming, Manchester United are poised to bolster their ranks further, having already splurged over £200 million on five new summer recruits. The Red Devils are particularly keen on fortifying their midfield, with links to Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlovic and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller surfacing in recent weeks.
Jobe Bellingham, who impressed for Sunderland during their Championship promotion last season, is yet to find the net in 11 appearances for Dortmund this term, starting only twice in the Bundesliga. Controversy has also surrounded the young midfielder, after England legend Sir Geoff Hurst labelled Bellingham’s father a ‘disgrace’ for confronting Dortmund officials regarding his son’s half-time substitution in a 3-3 draw against St. Pauli.
Spanish outlet Fichajes reports that United are preparing a €50 million (£44 million) bid, with Dortmund not expected to pose significant resistance if such an offer is forthcoming. The report suggests that Bellingham is pivotal to United’s midfield strengthening plans, seeking an emerging talent to spearhead the team’s transition.
Despite these developments, the Daily Mirror claims Bellingham harbours no interest in the proposed move to Manchester United, ostensibly due to their absence from Champions League football, a potential deal-breaker for the promising 20-year-old.
Further comments from former Germany international Didi Hamann resonate, questioning Jobe’s capabilities compared to his brother Jude at Real Madrid, stating, “The only cause for concern seems to be Jobe Bellingham. Young, expensive and, so far, not even half as good as Jude Bellingham. It’s not getting any easier for him.”