Club waits on windfall from Jude

JUDE Bellingham is in the top five most valuable players in the world, according to a new study published by the CIES Football Observatory.

The 18-year-old is ranked as the most valuable English player – and second most valuable teenager behind Barcelona’s Pedri Gonzalez, who is fourth.

The top three positions are filled by forwards with Kylian Mbappe valued at EUR205.6million, Vinicius Junior worth EUR185.3m and Manchester City new boy Erling Haaland coming in at EUR152.6m.

Barca’s 19-year-old Pedri is claimed to be worth EUR135.1m, with Blues product Bellingham at EUR133.7m – roughly £115m – one spot ahead of Man City’s Phil Foden.

The Football Observatory attributes Mbappe’s top ranking to his new three-year contract, which ended speculation about him leaving PSG to join Real Madrid.

Premier League clubs dominate the ranking with 41 representatives in the top 100 – Foden being the most valuable at £106m.

Blues, who brought England international Bellingham through the age groups before handing him a season of first-team football and selling him to Borussia Dortmund, are believed to have a sell-on clause for the young midfielder.

However, it has been reported that is only five per cent while the club have declined to disclose the actual figure. There is no prospect of that paying off this summer, with Bellingham having already confirmed he will remain in the Bundesliga next season.

Before that there was talk of Liverpool and Real Madrid being keen on one of the rising stars of world football.

Bellingham recently spoke of his desire to return to Blues towards the end of his career – and reclaim his ‘retired’ shirt number. “As I always say, it’s not retired but reserved for when I go back and, hopefully, take them to the Premier League,” he said.

Man United’s Jadon Sancho (£88m), Mason Mount, of Chelsea, and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (both £86m) made the top 20, with another 15 English players featuring in the top 100.