The 19-year-old has already shone at the World Cup, with there set to be a huge bidding war this summer to lure him away from Borussia Dortmund
When England needed someone to break Iran’s stubborn resistance on Monday, it was Jude Bellingham who popped up with the crucial moment of magic.
That it was the 19-year-old who opened the floodgates in the 6-2 victory should not have come as a surprise to anyone, given the incredible heights he has already hit in his short career with Borussia Dortmund.
But the goal, along with his superb performance, was just another reminder of the incredible quality and potential that the former Birmingham City starlet possesses.
Bellingham will be out to replicate his heroics on Friday when England meet the United States in their second group-stage game, looking to make it two wins from two in Qatar.
Clubs from across Europe will once again have their focus aimed directly on the teenager as they prepare for what is expected to be a fierce transfer battle for the midfielder this summer.
And GOAL has taken a look at which clubs could be in the running for Bellingham at the end of the season, and where he could potentially make the biggest impact.
Liverpool
It seems like Bellingham has been linked with a transfer to Liverpool ever since he first made his move to Dortmund from Birmingham.
The Reds are big admirers of the midfielder, and with both Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara the wrong side of 30, there is a clear spot in the starting XI waiting for him at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp rarely strays far from his tried and trusted 4-3-3 formation, and while there is a huge emphasis on physicality and tactical discipline, we’ve seen with Thiago (and to a lesser extent Harvey Elliott) a bit of a shift towards looking at a more technical, creative midfield.
So someone like Bellingham would be perfect in that regard as Klopp looks to reshape what is an ageing area of his team.
The big question mark over Bellingham and Liverpool is whether the Reds would have the financial ability to compete against other top clubs for the England star.
Would they potentially spend over £100 million on a single player at a time when owners FSG are exploring ways of selling the club? It just feels doubtful, especially if they fail to secure qualification to the Champions League next season.
It’s something you could never rule out, however, as the Reds have shown in the past they will spend big to sign a player they believe will really make a difference, with the capture of Virgil van Dijk a clear example of that.
Manchester City
City certainly wouldn’t have any issue meeting Dortmund’s financial demands when it comes to Bellingham, and having signed Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji from the Bundesliga outfit last summer, the two clubs have a decent relationship.
Pep Guardiola has not hidden his admiration for Bellingham in the past, having hailed him as the “whole package” earlier in the season after City met Dortmund in the Champions League.
And so the Premier League champions have to be considered one of the front runners when it comes to potentially signing the England star, especially when you look at their current midfield.
Bernardo Silva continues to be a star for City, but he has been open to joining Barcelona for the past couple of seasons. If the Catalan giants finally pay up this summer, then Bellingham would be the ideal replacement.
City will also have to start pondering the unthinkable soon and start looking for a long-term Kevin De Bruyne successor, who will be 32 by the start of next season.
Manchester United
United are rebuilding and they certainly need a new poster boy after ditching Cristiano Ronaldo.
Whatever happens at Old Trafford and the potential sale of the club in the near future, you know United will be able to compete financially, such is their immense commercial firepower.
But whether Bellingham would want to move to a club that is just starting a rebuild is unclear.
This next move for the midfielder feels like a big one. He will have his pick of the top clubs in the world, so it feels unlikely he would opt for a team who might not be ready to compete for the biggest trophies.
But United can never be ruled out due to their vast resources, and for all the upheaval they have gone through in recent years, they are still a huge club that can sway a player’s thinking.
There is also an obvious opening for Bellingham in United’s midfield, which has been an area where improvements have been needed for some time now.
United are known admirers for Bellingham and it feels certain that they will be in the running for him if he does become available. It just feels, however, they will be behind some of their rivals in the race.
