Jude Bellingham would NOT get into Manchester City’s starting XI right now, claims Danny Murphy

Jude Bellingham would not get into Manchester City‘s starting lineup right now despite reports linking him with a move to the Etihad, says former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy.

Bellingham, 19, is already one of the hottest properties in world football after becoming a first-team regular for Borussia Dortmund and an important member of England’s senior squad before his 20th birthday.

The Dortmund midfielder’s potential is frightening, which explains why a host of top European clubs are lining up to prise him away from Signal Iduna Park next year.

Liverpool have long been linked with a move, while Real Madrid are also understood to be circling.

Jude Bellingham would not get into Man City’s starting lineup right now, says Danny Murphy

However, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo also claims City hold a significant interest in Bellingham amid doubts over Ilkay Gundogan’s future at the club. 

The allure of playing for Pep Guardiola’s side may prove too good to turn down, especially if they secure a third consecutive Premier League title this season.

Yet Murphy does not believe Bellingham can simply walk into the very best teams world football has to offer – particularly City – and insists he would get more game time at Liverpool. 

‘Would he get in any team? At the moment I don’t think he would get in every team, no,’ the ex-Reds man said on talkSPORT.

Bellingham has reportedly emerged as a target for City after impressing at Borussia Dortmund

But Murphy says he cannot walk into every team in the world, particularly Pep Guardiola’s City

The former Liverpool midfielder believes his development would be better served at Anfield

‘So I think for him it’s a case of, does he want to go and play every week? Probably, because he’s used to playing.

‘Or, does he want to go somewhere where he’s part of something growing?’

When fellow pundit Simon Jordan suggested he is ‘perfect’ for Liverpool, Murphy continued: ‘He is, and he’d play.

‘The difference is if he went to City, for example, you could argue at the minute that he probably wouldn’t play.’

Bellingham has spent the last two years in Dortmund after leaving boyhood club Birmingham, who incredibly chose to retire their academy graduate’s No 22 shirt after his departure.

Murphy also highlighted Real Madrid as a potential destination for Bellingham on talkSPORT

Since making the move he has made 112 appearances for the German club, scoring 19 goals and winning the DFB-Pokal in 2021.  

Murphy feels his willingness to explore new countries and cultures means Madrid could be a potential destination, continuing: ‘The fact he went to Dortmund tells me he’s not someone scared of change, or learning a language so Madrid is in the equation.

‘Even more so when you look at [Luka] Modric and [Toni] Kroos because they’re near the end. You need someone with some serious ‘cojones’ to fill the boots of Luka Modric.

‘He’s a different type [of player] but the end product would be similar in terms of making goals and scoring goals. Modric is a creative player and Bellingham is a creator really, he can be destructive with his physicality.’