22 Jun 2020 15:46:12
Ed02, are there any updates on Bellingham's future? Lots of talk of him choosing Dortmund but nothing announced so far.

Also, do you know if there are any plans to buy a CB in the summer or do you think we'll be focusing on other areas?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Dortmund have continued discussions over Bellingham and have thought for a while that they will reach a formal agreement.

I am not so sure a CB is a priority at the moment with five registered for the Premier League. But if one or two could be sold and one came up at the right price who could improve the squad, maybe it might happen.}

1.) 22 Jun 2020
22 Jun 2020 16:07:53
Thanks Ed.

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}

2.) 22 Jun 2020
22 Jun 2020 17:54:43
Looks as though Dortmund have continued discussions for Bellingham Ed002 but have other teams made formal offers too?

{Ed002's Note - I am pretty sure not.}

3.) 22 Jun 2020
22 Jun 2020 18:52:33
Dortmund are doing some great business then if getting Haaland and Bellingham in the same year. Two players I’d love to see at United.

4.) 22 Jun 2020
22 Jun 2020 19:08:40
It’s ok we will sign them next summer for 150mill combined. that’s how we roll 😂.

5.) 22 Jun 2020
22 Jun 2020 22:35:50
Is bellingham to Dortmund connected at all with our pursuit of Sancho? Or is that just clutching at straws?

{Ed002's Note - No.}

6.) 23 Jun 2020
23 Jun 2020 11:02:27
I think Bellingham to Dortmund makes much more sense, for the player and for both Dortmund and United.

Bellingham needs to play every week to progress and become a top player, while Dortmund have a fantastic recent history of working with young players and making them top stars. I don't see how he gets into the United first team on a consistent basis especially if Pogba stays. Matic, Fred, McTominay, Pogba and Bruno ahead of him. Garner hasn't got as many minutes as most would have liked this season, and while Bellingham is probably ahead of him in his development he is only due to playing every week at a professional level for the past season.

While I see the logic in spending 30m on a player now who could be worth 150m in 2-3 years time, that only works if the player can play every week and fulfil that potential. Other wise its 30m spent on a player who will at best sit on the bench every week and stagnate. For an extra 10m we could potentially sign Donny van de Beek who could challenge our first teamers next season and actually contribute to the team next season.

7.) 23 Jun 2020
23 Jun 2020 17:05:50
Agree with that Shappy, there’s almost no point signing him if there’s no route to the first team for him. However, I would’ve thought that the club would try to sign him anyway if they are that convinced he’s the real deal, and simply loan him back to Birmingham for next season so he will continue to play week in week out. Then ideally Birmingham get promoted and we can loan him back for one or two more seasons in the Premier League just like Henderson at Sheffield United, or another Premier League club if Birmingham don’t get promoted, which isn’t all that likely. Either way, he comes back to United at 20 years old with 4 full seasons of first team football under his belt. But that surely makes far too much sense for it to ever happen.

8.) 23 Jun 2020
23 Jun 2020 17:31:42
Gilly, the problem with that is Bellingham is 16 years old and still a child. He isn't able to leave the club on loan until he is 18 at least.

If he joins us the options are play him in the first team or play him in the academy. That's it.

Personally I think signing a professional deal with Birmingham and having another year in the championship would be the best idea. Then look to move next summer to a higher level of Birmingham don't get promotion. That way he would sign for another club a few months before his 18th birthday. He could see how he settles and if he isn't getting enough game time could leave on loan in the January.

Wherever he moves there needs to be a clear path of progression, he has huge potential. But that will never be fulfilled unless he is constantly challenged while not being pushed beyond what he is physically capable. He needs to be challenged technical and mentally but not physically yet as he will still be growing.

It's a very fine balance and the wrong move to a club without a clear plan for him could set back his career or even ruin his chances of ever reaching his full potential.

If he is determined to move this summer then Dortmund might be the best club for him.