Manchester United have been extensively linked with Jobe Bellingham in recent weeks. The English midfielder has not had the best of times since moving to Borussia Dortmund, and reports have suggested that he could return to England in 2026.
A report from Football Transfers suggests Manchester United are keen on signing him as they look to reinforce their midfield mid-season. However, they are unlikely to get their hands on the 20-year-old as Borussia Dortmund have complete faith in him, and Niko Kovac is pleased with his development since joining them.
While speaking about Bellingham via following their 1-0 win over Augsburg, the Dortmund manager said, “He’s present, has great physicality and a technical quality that he showed again here in his 30 minutes on the pitch. I really have no doubts about him – quite the opposite. We’re building him up step by step. In fact, it’s going even faster than I expected because the boy has so much quality.”
After Bellingham made a name for himself at Sunderland, Borussia Dortmund signed the 20-year-old in a deal worth €30.5 million. While the Englishman was expected to take the Bundesliga by storm, he has struggled in the initial phase of the season.
Jobe Bellingham had limited game time in the initial fixtures and did not have the best of relationship with the club after his father, Mark, confronted sporting director Sebastian Kehl when he was subbed off at half-time on his debut.
With regular minutes hard to come by, multiple reports suggested that Jobe Bellingham could return to England in 2026, with Manchester United emerging as a potential destination. The Red Devils are looking to add more quality to their midfield and want someone capable of contributing in multiple roles; a profile Bellingham certainly fits.
Manchester United have had him on their radar for some time and viewed this as a great opportunity to bring him to Old Trafford. However, the report from Football Transfers and Niko Kovac’s comments make it clear that Dortmund are very pleased with his progress and have no intention of letting him leave anytime soon. His game time has also increased in recent weeks, making a move away seems unlikely at this stage.
