Revealed: Arsenal missed out on signing Jude Bellingham for just £500k – with Man Utd also coming close to landing Real Madrid superstar

The Daily Mail has released what is supposedly the first scouting report compiled on the England international midfielder, with his potential being spotted early while still on the books of home-town club Birmingham City.

It is claimed that Arsenal – who have missed out on several superstar signings down the years, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – made an approach for Bellingham while he was turning out at U14 level. A compensation package worth half-a-million pounds was required to complete a deal, with the Gunners willing to pay. An “unforeseen delay” is said to have scuppered those plans, with Bellingham penning terms with Birmingham.

United were also looking to acquire the hottest of prospects, with a sporting director telling the Mail: “The problem wasn’t seeing the talent with Jude. The problem was signing him, we were all told he was going to Manchester United.” The Red Devils told Bellingham and his father that they were prepared to fast-track the youngster into their first-team squad, but concerns were raised regarding a professional pathway at Old Trafford.

Bellingham went on to make his senior debut for Birmingham at 16 years of age and, having left for Borussia Dortmund in 2020, is now seeing his stock soar at Real Madrid after completing a €103 million (£90m/$109m) transfer to the Liga giants in the summer of 2023.