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Manchester United have offered Birmingham City an eight-figure package for wonderkid Jude Bellingham.

The Old Trafford giants are at the forefront of the race to sign a 16-year-old who has attracted attention from the biggest clubs in Europe.

Two clubs are understood to have made formal approaches for the player who grew up as a boyhood Blues fan – and the Red Devils are one of them.

Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to hoover up best talent in the country and the England Under-19 international is one of the brightest out there.

Birmingham are being offered a hefty downpayment with add-ons expected to take the bid over the £12.5m-mark.

(Image: TIM EASTHOPE/BIRMINGHAM MAIL)

It is a staggering sum for a player who will not celebrate his 17 birthday until the end of June but he already has half-a-season of competitive football in the Championship under his belt.

The teenager made his full debut for Birmingham aged just 16 years and 38 days' old – beating that set by original 'Superboy' Trevor Francis.

And a few weeks later he also became the club's youngest-ever goalscorer, finding the net thanks to a generous deflection against Stoke City, claiming the winner in a 2-1 victory.

As reported in Mirror Sport last week, Bellingham is in no hurry to leave St Andrew's and the club he supported while growing up.

(Image: TIM EASTHOPE/BIRMINGHAM MAIL)

He is happy to stay put and, with the help of his dad Mark, has shunned approaches from agents to broker his future.

At present, Bellingham is being a scholar's wages of around £145-per-week and Birmingham remain confident he will put pen-to-paper on a significant deal at the end of June when he celebrates his 17 birthday.

The player himself is more interested in building up his experience and his father, who used to be a prolific scorer in non-league, is happy to be guided by his son.

Despite posting huge losses this week when the club released its' figures, Birmingham are in no desperate need for the money.

Bellingham's talents are no secret and so far the club the club has welcomed scouts from the biggest clubs in Europe since the teenager made his first-team breakthrough.

However, Manchester United are at the front of the queue for the player's services, should the player and club decide to cash in.