Tongues have been wagging about Jude Bellingham, the 19 year old Englishman who’s been setting the Bundesliga on fire with his performances, and he’s been linked to the biggest, shiniest clubs (with apologies to Dortmund) this summer. LIverpool recently begged off, citing his potential £100m transfer fee but also the monumental nature of their own rebuild. Perhaps more-explosive has been Bellingham’s own confessions about his future, which just might indicate that Aresnal could be his preferred destination.

The England midfielder wants to play for a prestigious club with values like “passion, honour, and reputation”, rather than money. This would seem to rule out clubs like Man City, Chelsea, or Man U, and—at a risk of going out on a limb—might even hone in on the Arsenal. Liverpool have bowed out. Tottenham can’t afford him, and they’re facing a massive rebuild. Should Bellingham be serious in his desire to join a club with passion, honour, and reputation, it would be hard to do better than our own club.

First, let’s look at where he currently plays. Borussia Dortmund have lingered in the long, long shadow that the titanic Bayern Munich cast over the Bundesliga. Is it too much to suggest that Bellingham would savor a chance at toppling a similar titan on his home soil? Sure, Man City, can probably proffer any transfer fee and wage packet imaginable, but might Bellingham want a chance at slaying a Goliath? It’s not hard to imagine. Would he want to reprise Lewandowski’s role, joining the enemy rather than slaying him? If so, I stand firm when I say we should want no part of such a mercenary.

If instead Bellingham is sincere in his desire to join a club with those vaunted values of “passion, honour, and reputation”, he may very well be the kind of player we want. Surely, he’s noticed how simliarly preternaturally talented players like Bukayo Saka have flourished under Arteta’s tutelage and tactics. On a parallel note, he can’t have missed how other similarly preternaturally talented players like Jadon Sancho have stagnated elsewhere, at clubs I’m too discreet to name here (hint: it rhymes with Banchester Punited).

A move to Arsenal could make sense on other levels, as well. Joining a currently dysfunctional club like Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, or Tottenham would bring with it massive pressure to immediately elevate the club into contention for a Prem title and Champions League glory (depending on the club’s qualification for that staid and stately competition). Here at the Arsenal, we have ensconced at Bellingham’s preferred position(s) Xhaka, Partey, and Ødegaard. He wouldn’t have to produce immediately; he wouldn’t have to be a saviour or savant.

Instead, he’d be joining a young, determined squad with its brightest future still ahead of it with a chance to grow into his potential. With Xhaka and Partey gradually ageing out, a move to the right side of London (read: the red side) starts to make more and more sense. He may not be Prem-proven, like Declan Rice is, but his upside and his mindset are tantalising to say the least.

The silly season is still months away, but tongues are wagging. Time will tell.

One last note before you go: you can enter a raffle for a £25 Arsenal Direct gift card by commenting on this and other posts in April. Yes, it’s a direct attempt at bribing you to join the conversation. The more often you comment, the better your chances at winning. Have at it!