Manchester United join Chelsea in Jude Bellingham race and eye up another former Stoke striker

Posted Thursday, November 03, 2022 by 101 GREAT GOALS

Manchester United have reportedly joined Chelsea in the race for English sensation Jude Bellingham as they look to snag the star they missed out on three years ago, while former Stoke star Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is also among their transfer targets.

The Red Devils thought that they had secured Bellingham's signature while he was at Birmingham City, only for the teenager to opt to move to Germany and join fellow Englishman Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund.

Three years later, he is expected to be on the move again, with Bild Sport reporting that Chelsea have sprung into an early lead having agreed to pay a reported 150m euros for his signature.

But they will face stiff competition, with Liverpool prepared to splash out while Real Madrid and Manchester City have also been credited with a strong interest.

And Manchester United are ready to join that race, with the Mirror reporting that "Ten Hag and United Football Director John Murtough have held several meetings to identify summer transfer targets and have put Bellingham at the top of their list."

Speaking about his future earlier in the season, Bellingham refused to be drawn into speculation.

'In all honesty I'm not thinking about anything like that [the transfer rumours]', he explained.

'You [the media] will be angry with me as you won't get a headline, but I'm just focused on the next games with Borussia Dortmund.

'I'm not even thinking about the World Cup. I'm trying to win games with Borussia Dortmund and then we'll see what happens.'

The Red Devils have also been credited with an interest in fellow Bundesliga star Choupo Moting, who has found form with Bayern Munich after stints with PSG and Stoke City.

As per French reports, the club are 'thinking very seriously' about making a move for the striker, who is out of contract this summer, with Choupo-Moting's 'profile, versatility, experience, and status' all making him an enticing target.

Having already missed out on his former teammate Marko Arnautovic over the summer, and with Cristiano Ronaldo out of contract this summer, it would be quite the shock if they landed Choupo-Moting, but nothing can be ruled out at Old Trafford.