According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, Wolverhampton Wanderers are ‘desperate’ to sign midfielder Jude Bellingham amidst interest across Europe and the Premier League.

What’s the word?

It is believed that the west Midlanders’ interest just won’t go away despite a lack of encouragement over any potential deal.

The 16-year-old has attracted the eyes of Manchester United as the Mirror claim they are set to offer £12.5m for him to try and tempt him away from his boyhood club, Birmingham City.

Speaking on Twitter, Nixon said:

Fosun, check

Bellingham’s breakthrough has been nothing short of impressive considering he doesn’t turn 17 until the end of the season – he has become a regular under Pep Clotet in the Championship, starting 17 of 23 matches, where he has bagged three goals and provided one assist, per Transfermarkt.

Wolves’ interest is no surprise considering the long-term ambition of the club’s owners, Chinese conglomerate Fosun, who want to start producing from within and breeding youngsters through their system.

There’s no doubt that signing a teenager with such massive potential as this would be the perfect move to meet such goals, especially as he could be part of Nuno Santo’s first-team set up from day one given his senior experience.

Blues teammate Dan Crowley has praised him in the past, and it’s fair to suggest that his midfield counterpart knows a thing or two about rising talents after coming through the academy system at Arsenal.

After Bellingham netted the winner against Charlton back in September, the 22-year-old said:

“He’s unbelievable, I can’t speak highly enough about Jude as a lad” before going on to compare him to Tottenham Hotspur ace Dele Alli: “I used to play with and against Dele Alli and he reminds me of Dele. Dele is quite tall, and so is Jude. Dele with the ball at his feet is really good. I’ve not seen a young lad who is so tall and big so good with his feet.”

Call yourself a Wolves expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

Forget Morgan Gibbs-White, if Bellingham were to join, he could be the future at central midfield for Wolves, and at just £12.5m, he’d be a steal.

And in other news, Wolves’ chances of breaking into the top six lies solely in the hands of one man, and one man alone…