Pep Clotet, the coach of highly sorted teenager Jude Bellingham has hereby warned several suitors especially the Manchester United concerning the probable increase of interest in the teenager when the summer transfer opens.
Bellingham, who joined Birmingham City as an under-8, played for their under-18 team at the age of 14, and made his debut for the under-23 team at the age of 15 in 2018.
Due to his exceptional talent, he was gradually introduced to the senior team while still a schoolboy. He began to train frequently with the seniors and also accompanying them on matchday to observe the first team play.
Jude Bellingham was given two-year scholarship with Birmingham City that begins in July 2019.
Early this season, at the age of 16 years and 38 days, Bellingham became Birmingham City’s youngest ever first team player when he started the EFL Cup first round visit to Portsmouth, breaking the record set by Trevor Francis at the age of 16 years and 139 days in 1970.
Bellingham began to be eased into the team, playing the left wing, then was later moved into central midfield, where he began to gain confidence. Then he was eventually moved into a more advanced role where he can have more influence on the game.
According to head coach Pep Clotet, Bellingham himself “feels more comfortable in midfield, and more comfortable when he can get closer to the opposition box.”
The 16-year-old prodigy has already had a bid for his signature turned down by his club in January 2020; on deadline day, as Birmingham reportedly rejected a £20 million bid from Manchester United.
Birmingham boss Pep Clotet believes the interest in Jude Bellingham will increase when the Championship returns, which might put Manchester United’s hope of landing the teenager in jeopardy.
“What I’m very happy about now is that Jude is here with us and all the players are here with us as well,” Clotet told Sky Sports.
‘We focus on that really, but I understand there’s going to be more speculation when the games do come back.
“As a head coach, I don’t deal with transfers, it’s the club. But I can imagine the situation has all the clubs very worried about how to finish this season and what impact this season has into next season.
“That can change a lot of the future of the clubs. Possibly it’s going to be a busy summer, possibly it’s going to be less busy, we still don’t know what impact it will have.”
