Jude Bellingham has become one of the most talked-about young footballers in Europe right now. Despite playing for a Championship side like Birmingham City, the youngster has caught the attention of clubs all across the continent. While he will have a big number of options in front of him in the summer, Borussia Dortmund will be the right club for him. Those with an interest in sports betting would be wise to take advantage of the available odds on this move whilst they are favourable.
At just 16, Bellingham has become a regular for Pep Clotet’s Birmingham side. He has made 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals and assisting twice. The Englishman has become known for his supreme versatility, having played on either flank, in central midfield, attacking midfield and even as a striker.
While he’s played more often on the left, his strength lies in dribbling. He has completed 1.47 dribbles per 90 minutes this season and has a dribbling accuracy of 57.1 percent. But Bellingham adds some finesse in winning the ball back. He makes a little over six recoveries per 90 minutes, completing 3.2 tackles per 90 minutes.
That is a sign of how he’s in the mould of a player who can do both the jobs. He is raw and will only mature over time. Earlier in the campaign, Clotet praised Bellingham for having a very mature head. He said: :
“He is quiet, he is very professional in his football, he is a confident lad in his ability but he is someone you can talk to, he is very mature as well.”
In recent years, Germany has become the place that attracts some high potential youngsters from England and other parts of the continent. Jadon Sancho started the trend by taking the risk and it is paying off. Callum Hudson-Odoi could have been at Bayern Munich. Ethan Ampadu and Ademola Lookman are at RB Leipzig, while Jonjo Kenny is at Schalke.
Dani Olmo and Erling Haaland chose to move to German clubs before moving to a team like Manchester United or Barcelona. It is concrete proof that Germany allows upcoming players to develop well, thanks to how they develop under-the-radar. Unlike the Premier League, there is little pressure of expectations from the risk of being replaced by an expensive signing.
The money that floats about in England makes it seem like a big risk to invest in a teenager and make him play first-team football. Since they have the money, they would rather invest it on an established player. The opposite rings true for Dortmund.
Gio Reyna is also an example. The Sunderland-born American came from New York City FC and has already made eight Bundesliga appearances at the age of 17. All this points to how Lucien Favre’s side is looking to produce a bunch of highly talented young players and potentially use the money from their sales to do the same.
Bellingham’s versatility makes him a useful player in Dortmund’s attacking, high-pressing system. Young players find it easier to play in this system than older players. That is one big reason why BVB sign young blood.
Dortmund did sign Emre Can on a permanent basis from Juventus recently. They do have Thomas Delaney and Mahmoud Dahoud still there, bar Axel Witsel. But the first two aren’t first-team regulars. There is every chance one of them does leave, with their careers stagnating.
Sancho and Thorgan Hazard are regulars in the wide areas. Julian Brandt is versatile- almost like Bellingham himself. Marco Reus, as always, plays either as the number ten in a back-four system or anywhere in the front-three. Raphael Guerreiro is either the regular at left-back or the left side of the midfield.
Bellingham might not have a regular starting role in that team. But the sort of club Dortmund are, they can sell players at will. Guerreiro was linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain last summer. Sancho is expected to leave too.
The case of Sancho makes it interesting for Bellingham. He is at around a similar age when Sancho left Man City for Dortmund. He can play in his position and reap huge rewards to the club in the future. Like Sancho, he thrives on getting on the ball and taking it forward.
Dortmund now have the right culture to develop Bellingham. Once Sancho leaves, it might become even more clear.
