The race for Jude Bellingham's signature is heating up, with the Birmingham City midfielder set to attract a host of interest heading into the summer transfer window.

The 16-year-old has been superb for Birmingham this season and his value only seems to be increasing as games go by, after a number of impressive performances for Blues.

Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund have both been heavily linked with Bellingham, with the former recently showing the teenager around their training ground ahead of a potential summer switch.

But Chelsea have now reportedly joined the race for Bellingham, and discussing this latest transfer speculation in greater detail is FLW's George Harbey...

What's been said?

"Fresh reports from Manchester Evening News claim that Chelsea have joined United and Dortmund in the race to sign Jude Bellingham.

"MEN broke the news surrounding Bellingham's visit to United's Carrington training complex, but they now claim that Chelsea have registered an interest in the teenager.

"The report says that the London club have held talks with Bellingham and his agent, who also happens to be his father.

"A move seems to be quite far away at the moment and talks seem to be preliminary, but Frank Lampard's side are said to be well in the chase for Bellingham."

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Why is Bellingham attracting so much interest from such high-profile clubs?

"Bellingham is undoubtedly the brightest prospect in the EFL right now and he has come up leaps and bounds under Pep Clotet.

"For a player aged only 16-years-old to make over 30 first-team appearances in the Championship, whilst playing week in, week out and performing to that level is quite remarkable.

"He shows so much maturity and composure on the ball in midfield, and it speaks volumes how Clotet has trusted him to play right in the centre of a 4-4-2 set-up this term.

"He is an up and coming, box-to-box midfielder who has chipped in with goals and assists this term, and it's needless to say that he has a huge amount of potential."

Would Chelsea be a good move for Bellingham?

"If you asked me that question two or three years ago, I would have said no as quick as a flash.

"But under Frank Lampard, the future is the way forward for the Blues, and they are starting to become a club who are heavily investing in youth.

"The likes of Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham, Reece James, and now Billy Gilmour have emerged as key players for Chelsea, and they are all massive prospects with big futures ahead of them.

"Of course, the decision to play the youngsters has been influenced by the transfer ban in the summer, but Lampard is a manager who certainly isn't scared to give youth a chance regardless of that.

"Compared to a couple of years ago, I think it'd now be the perfect fit for him."

Why would Chelsea be a better move than United?

"There are many benefits of Bellingham snubbing United to join Chelsea, in my view.

"Lampard is one major reason - not only does he give youth a chance and is a patient boss, but he played in a very similar position to Bellingham back in his playing days.

"Learning off one of England's greatest goalscoring midfielders of all-time would be beneficial for the 16-year-old, and he could learn a huge amount from his potential new manager.

"You would argue, also, that United have better options than Chelsea in midfield, especially with Paul Pogba set to return from injury and Bruno Fernandes hitting the ground running since joining in January.

"Because of that, it would be somewhat easier for Bellingham to break into the Chelsea side, although he'd still have to work very hard to get there, of course."

What traits would he bring to the Chelsea midfield?

"Chelsea have a midfield blessed with talent, and Bellingham would certainly add real competition for places.

"He is a perfect box-to-box midfielder who would really fit Chelsea's system - he breaks up play really well and he is also a really good ball-carrier.

"He isn't afraid to put a tackle in either, and in some ways, he plays a lot like N'Golo Kante.

"He still has a lot of time to grow, though, so it would be unfair to draw comparisons just yet."

How realistic is a move away from Birmingham for Bellingham?

"It seems almost inevitable that Bellingham will depart St. Andrew's in the summer.

"He's yet to sign a professional deal with Blues, and as much as he loves the club, a move to the likes of Dortmund, Chelsea or United could turn out to be too much to turn down.

"Who he joins, however, is a mystery, and there's likely to be so many more clubs declaring an interest between now and the end of the season.

"It's so important that he sits down with his people and carefully chooses his next club after Birmingham, as it's make or break for his career."