Bellingham can be England’s greatest midfielder and could cost £100m plus, says Joe Cole

Joe Cole believes Jude Bellingham is ‘right up there’ with the very best England playmakers.

Indeed, the Midlands-born teenager, whose Borussia Dortmund outfit face Chelsea in the Champions League this week, may one day eclipse every midfield great produced on these shores, according to Cole.

And, yes, that includes Three Lions legends such as Paul Gascoigne, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. That is how highly Cole, capped 56 times during his own glittering career, rates Bellingham, 19.

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Asked where the Dortmund skipper ranks alongside Gazza and co, Cole said: “He’s definitely got the ability to be right up there. He could end up standing on the shoulders of all those great players – he could surpass them.

“He was brilliant at the World Cup. He was so mature, he can do everything. We’re certainly very blessed to have him in an England shirt.”

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Using the ‘takes one to know one’ rule, there are few better placed to pass such judgement than the former Chelsea and West Ham ace Cole. Like Bellingham, he was tipped for the top from his mid-teens.

There are potential pitfalls still and there are no guarantees, of course. However, Cole is convinced Bellingham’s rapid rise will continue.

“I was lucky to have a fantastic career, “ recalled Cole. “There’s many who don’t make it – they can’t handle the pressure. You get to a level where it’s like a pressure-cooker.

“Jude has already answered those questions because he has performed at the very highest level for Dortmund and England. Now the question is: Can he sustain it? Can he stay clear of injury? Can he continue to make marginal gains and improve? Can he add more goals?

“Everything that happens on a pitch happens first between your ears. Bellingham has got it. He’s got that maturity, that fight inside him.

Cole went from Upton Park to Stamford Bridge in a £6.6million move 20 years ago. Add another £100m and you are getting close to what the former Birmingham player will fetch this summer. That follows Chelsea blowing a record £106m on Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez last month.

Cole went on: “There might be a premium on Bellingham coming to England, with him being English. The price will be in that region.

“We love talking about players’ values but they’re not important Once the player is in the club, it’s done, the contract is in the drawer or in the cloud, or wherever they put them now.“

Bellingham versus Fernandez is certain to be a fascinating duel over the two legs. But not a decisive one, claims Cole. He said: “It’s two of the best young midfielders but that’s not where the game will be won and lost.

“It’s about the back three or four for Chelsea. They have to defend well but, the crucial thing, is can they play out through them to get the Mudryks on the ball. Chelsea need rhythm. They have to be brave, play through the lines and take risks.”

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