29 March 2023 , 16:00
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Jude Bellingham would turn Manchester United into title contenders, according to former Old Trafford star Gary Pallister.
United are among a host of clubs hoping to sign Bellingham this summer, with the England midfielder expected to leave Borussia Dortmund. Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool are also vying to sign the £120million-rated 19-year-old sensation.
But ex-United defender Pallister believes landing Bellingham would immediately put Erik Ten Hag's men into the bracket of title contenders. "The one that everybody's looking at, obviously, is Jude Bellingham,” said Pallister.
“I think wherever he goes, it will give the club that he arrives at a huge shot in the arm because everybody wants him. Technically, he's excellent. He's got a great drive to him by the looks of it.
“And I think every club's sort of letting it be known that they'd love to have him at their club. So the thing is, Manchester United is under a bit of a cloud at the moment because we're not sure what's going to happen with the bids for the club, or who's going to be in charge come the next transfer window. So that's a bit of a grey area.
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"But I would say United also need a centre-forward as well. If they can bring in one of maybe their top two targets next season, then it's going to make United more dangerous.
England star Jude Bellingham is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer (Getty Images)"If you add Bellingham to that as well, then wow. If you get, as I say, one of the two centre-forwards, then I think that sends out a big message to the rest of the Premier League that Manchester United can compete again with the very best."
One player who could be heading out of Old Trafford this summer is club captain and central defender Harry Maguire. Maguire has lost his place this season and will assess his future at the end of the campaign.
Pallister praised the way Maguire has handled his predicament and said the 30-year-old faces a big decision in the summer. "I think he's been very professional in the way he's handled it,” Pallister told aceodds.com
"He's got to make that call himself. If he wants to stay, then I'm sure Ten Hag will be delighted, because he's an excellent centre-half.”