Jude Bellingham discusses development at Birmingham in 2019
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has backed his former club to sign Birmingham City wonderkid Jude Bellingham. Bellingham, 16, is linked with a move to United for a staggering £30million. The midfielder burst into the Birmingham first team earlier this season and has not looked back, scoring four goals in 35 appearances in all competitions.
Man Utd news: Rio Ferdinand has backed United to sign Jude Bellingham (Image: GETTY/RIO FERDINAND INSTAGRAM)
But Ferdinand can understand some fans' scepticism over spending that much on a 16-year-old.
"Jude Bellingham, huge talent, huge talent, really good-looking footballer in the way he plays, the balance he's got, the maturity at such a young age," Ferdinand said on Instagram Live.
"I want to see more but the price tag is phenomenal, £30m-odd for a kid, for a 16-year-old boy, it's unbelievable.
"But it's the way of the world now and the way you've got to think about it, if you're paying £30m, if we keep him for 10 years it's money well spent.
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"It's a gamble, it's an expensive gamble, but the kid to be playing in the Championship and doing what he's doing and looking the player he is, it's a gamble yeah but a calculated one.
"I think he's someone I would 100 per cent take. If I'm Man United now, go in and get him.
"You can understand why the likes of Borussia Dortmund are trying to get onto this boy and trying to take him.
"The kid to me seems to have it all, he can play anywhere across the front.
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Man Utd news: Jude Bellingham has had a fine breakthrough season at Birmingham (Image: GETTY)
"I love this, this is what I live for, seeing these young players come through. You want to see that.
"You could say that [it is too much money], I can see where you're coming from. But it's the going rate in the market today.
"You could say it about all these fees, my fee at the time [from Leeds to United], you could say that was too much. Ended up being a bargain, didn't I!"