United lodge €150m bid for LaLiga superstar they narrowly missed out on four years ago – report

Manchester United have missed out on quite a few talented young footballers in the recent past, none more significant than Jude Bellingham. The Englishman exploded onto the scenes with Birmingham City and subsequently appeared on the radar of top clubs across the continent, including the Red Devils. The Premier League giants pulled out all the stops to convince the player to move to the Theatre of Dreams in the summer of 2020. They gave him a personalised tour of Old Trafford and even arranged a meet-and-greet with the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. Unfortunately, it was not enough, as Bellingham ended up joining Borussia Dortmund that summer. The one that got away The English midfielder was vindicated in his decision, as he soon became a first team regular for the Bundesliga club, while continuing to impress on the pitch. Bellingham’s performances convinced Real Madrid, who arrived at the table in the summer of 2023, and secured his signature in a reported €103 million deal. The player, meanwhile, hit a higher gear at the Santiago Bernabeu, further establishing himself as one of the finest in his position in the world. The 22 year old has been indispensable for Los Blancos since, registering 42 goals and 30 assists in 116 games. This season, Bellingham has scored four goals and set up two more in 16 appearances across all competitions. Jude Bellingham Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Total16422-1,051′ LaLiga12321-832′ UEFA Champions League41-1-219′ Source: Transfermarkt.United, meanwhile, have been left to rue what might have been, but it now appears that they are ready to make amends. United ready to break the bank for Bellingham According to Fichajes, United have offered €150 million for Bellingham, but it is not enough to convince Real Madrid to let him go. The Red Devils are looking for a new midfielder in 2026, and have been linked to several candidates for the job. With Bruno Fernandes already on the wrong side of 30, the Premier League giants are looking to add more quality to the middle of the park. Bellingham has all the attributes to replicate the Portuguese maestro’s success at Old Trafford, while his leadership qualities and charisma also make him a fine addition to Amorim’s roster. The problem is that Los Blancos consider the Englishman an integral part of their plans and have no desire to let him go. The report, however, adds that United are determined to get their man, and are willing to offer €180 million to convince their Spanish counterparts. Bellingham, meanwhile, stays focused on his performances, although he could be tempted to return to England and be the one that guides the fallen giants back to their glory days. Final Thoughts While United’s plans to reinforce the midfield have been well documented, talks of a blockbuster pursuit of Bellingham appear too good to be true. INEOS have moved away from superstar signings of late, which also raises questions about the move. Finally Bellingham appears settled at the Santiago Bernabeu, and has tasted tremendous success with Real Madrid so far. As such, it is quite unlikely that he would give all that up next year. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.