Report reveals two reasons why Arsenal are ‘unlikely’ to sign star who’d ‘obliterate transfer record’

Arsenal are ‘unlikely’ to enter the race to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham this summer, according to reports.

Bellingham has been in brilliant form for the Bundesliga side since joining from Birmingham City in a deal worth an initial £25m 2020.

He has taken his game to another level recently, becoming a regular in Gareth Southgate’s England midfield and helping Dortmund to top spot in the Bundesliga.

The 19-year-old has provided ten goals and four assists in 33 appearances in all competitions this season and he’s attracting interest from most of the elite clubs in the world.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are understood to be leading the race but there is also interest from other clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United.

Arsenal, though, have rarely come up as a potential destination despite currently leading the Premier League table with ten matches to play.

Despite looking for a new midfielder in the summer the Daily Telegraph explains ‘why Arsenal have other ideas’ with the article giving two reasons.

‘Signing Bellingham would obliterate Arsenal’s transfer record’ with their previous record spend the £72m they paid for Nicolas Pepe from Lille.

There is ‘currently no suggestion’ that the Gunners intend to make a move for Bellingham in the summer and ‘it is regarded as highly unlikely’.

For any Arsenal fans who ‘might ask why’, there are said to be ‘a couple of reasons’. The Daily Telegraph adds:

‘The most significant of which is the most simple: the price. The feeling in the industry is that the buying club who lands Bellingham will be lucky to sign him for less than £100 million. And that is before one considers the cost of his wages.’

On the second reason, the report continues:

‘To invest all that money in one player would also hurt Arsenal’s chances of strengthening across the squad. It is clear that they need to sign another forward, as competition for Saka, and there are also issues at full-back. If Kieran Tierney leaves this summer, for example, Arsenal will need to sign a replacement.’

Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic insisted in March that the speculation over Bellingham’s future was a “topic for his future” as the German club concentrating on winning the Bundesliga.

“With all respect for Jude and his performance, we are answering these kinds of questions since he arrived (in 2020),” said Terzic.

“Before he chose to join us, he had opportunities to join the Premier League. There was loads of interest from top-flight clubs.

“But he chose to join us because he knows it can be the perfect step for him. I think we’ve proven it both ways. He’s helping us a lot. But we as a club are helping him and his career as well.

“We are really happy that he’s part of our team, he’s one of our leaders at 19. He stepped into the England team as one of our players. But we know that we need a good performance from him tomorrow.

“It’ll be a topic for his future, but our future now is that we’re going to face a really tough opponent tomorrow and so we need him in a good way.”

READ MORE: Man City, not fading Liverpool, would be the biggest transfer gamble of all for Jude Bellingham