If he's loaned out, I'd hope he'd be playing at a Premier League level. But I don't see why he couldn't just come in right away. It's probably what Dortmund are offering - doubtful they're spunking loads of cash on him to loan him back to Birmingham. If Pogba's off in the summer we definitely will have plenty of game time for him and there's great value in him training with our team as opposed to Birmingham (no disrespect).
I don't know about that, honestly. Fabregas is the last ridiculously young player I can remember in central midfield at a club in England legitimately expected to challenge for the league with all the pressures and stresses that brings even for unprepared (mentally) players with bags of experience and international caps.
Ole has had more room to experiment this season due to how things have panned out, but from the get go, next, we'll be playing for the title and the point tallies needed don't allow much margin for error or blooding of youngsters unless they're insanely talented and/or of certain constitution (mental fortititude). Is that fair on Bellingham? He's in relative nowheresville at the moment not playing for anything much; perhaps a playoff place, but even that's not expected.
He could obviously come here and take to the game and the league like a duck to water, but, at 16-17, if he doesn't, it shouldn't be a mark against him, but we're not going to entertain growing pains if we're not getting those crucial points on the board - from any youngster, not even Bellingham, per se.
A great scenario would be that we have a strong midfield with a solid rotation that allows for a nurtured player to come in without the standard slipping. Pogba (I'll assume he stays), Fernandes, Fred, McTominay, Partey (as an example), Matic (in his resurgent form) and Bellingham, would comfortably be one of the best midfield units in the league, but then, game time for all of them would be the challenge, wouldn't it?
Matt Busby via a seance. It'll be like the scene at the end of Return of the Jedi.
I don’t get the idea that we loan him back to Birmingham. Championship football is a decent level and he’s very comfortable with that. Surely he needs to step up to continue his rapid progress and getting 10-12 starts with us next season in the cups and odd PL fixtures will be best for him. Chelsea wouldn’t dream of loaning that Gilmour lad out, nor City with Foden and if this kid is as good as they say he needs to be valued and nurtured in the same way.
I've questioned the best way to bring someone like Bellingham on in this thread. Not that I have the answer, but I highlighted just how rare it is for ridiculously young CM's to enter the men's game, even, let alone be part of *big* clubs and their immediate plans. I said that I'm not sure Birmingham, or the Championship itself, is even optimal as you've got a talent who should be getting the absolute best of everything to draw out all his potential, which he simply cannot get at a club in the Championship. There again, will a top club give him the chance to spread his wings and develop whilst affording him the kind of playing time he is used to? It seems absurd to even suggest he go into the reserves or anything of the sort after already proving himself in the Championship, but then, if he's sent off on a loan, even to another PL club, we can't keep an eye on him or be certain he's getting the kind of coaching and challenges to ensure he's the best version of himself at all stages of development.
Seems to be a unique challenge to bring someone like him in and also ensure his rate of development is not curtailed.
Regarding the Dortmund links. People maybe forget the impact going to Dortmund would have on family life. The kid is still 16 he won’t want to go on his own nor will his parents want to leave him.
United makes much more sense and is much less of a life upheaval for the family. Money is important clearly but not everything
Don't know what kind of 16yr old you were, but if that were me, I'd have been buzzing going to a new country at that age. Depends on his personality, that; homebody, likely to get homesick etc.? Or outgoing and excited at the thought of having some freedom to get on not just in terms of football, but growing up, too?
He'll also be 17 next season, which is an age when many a teen is itching to become their own person.
Based on the fee alone he seems like a Wayne Rooney level talent. Great business if we pull it off, also a big feck you to Dortmund.
As someone else said, he'd be £100m if he were a Rooney level talent. They don't come around often at all and the hype if one did in England in this day and age would be stratospheric.