Jude Bellingham 'wants to play in new position for England' with Real Madrid star struggling at Euro 2024
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Jude Bellingham wants to play in a new position for England at Euro 2024 this summer amid his dip in form, reports say.
The Real Madrid star was outstanding in the 1-0 win over Serbia on matchday one, netting the only goal of the game as the Three Lions secured victory.
In the time since, however, Bellingham has struggled.
The 20-year-old toiled in the 1-1 draw with Denmark before putting in another subdued display against Slovenia on Tuesday night.
Jude Bellingham wants to play in a new position for England with the Real Madrid star struggling for form at Euro 2024
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Southgate has already revealed he's set to talks with Bellingham in order to get the midfielder back to his brilliant best.
According to the Daily Mail, however, the youngster is keen to play in a new position for the Three Lions.
Bellingham, it's claimed, would like to play as a false nine at the tournament - having done so for Real Madrid last term.
That resulted in the former Borussia Dortmund star netting 23 goals from 42 games as the club won a LaLiga and Champions League double.
But the problem for England is that they're currently unable to unleash Bellingham as a false nine at the tournament.
Southgate normally plays with just one centre-forward.
And that's always set to be Harry Kane, despite the Bayern Munich star also struggling for consistency so far.
Bellingham is expected to play alongside Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo when England lock horns with Slovakia in their last 16 clash on Sunday night.
And Southgate, speaking after the goalless draw with Slovenia, refused to shed light on what he'd tell Bellingham.
“I will have those messages with him rather than plaster them over the papers," he said.
READ MORE:England have three players that need dropping as Gareth Southgate woes worsen in Slovenia draw
Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, is concerned by Bellingham's dip in form.
The Manchester United icon, who is set to leave Euro 2024 after working for the BBC as a pundit, believes something is 'not quite right' with the Madrid star.
“Jude starts the first game well," he told the BBC's Football Daily Podcast. "But I’m sure he’d tell you himself he hasn’t had the best games in the last two games.
"For me, he’s looked very frustrated.
"I’ve been there exactly the position he’s in, even the game yesterday, you saw him throwing his arms up in the air.
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Jude Bellingham wants to play as a false nine for England at Euro 2024
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"As a talisman for England and Real Madrid, I haven’t heard him speak.
"What is the reason for that? As one of the iconic players now for England in the squad, he should be fronting that.
"That tells me that he’s probably not quite right in the tournament."
Rooney added: "He's giving it his all, 100 per cent, I don't think that's the problem.
"You want players demanding more from their team-mates, and I think that’s what he was trying to do.
England boss Gareth Southgate plans to hold talks with Jude Bellingham ahead of Euro 2024 clash with Slovakia
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"So, it’s not a criticism, it is a compliment in some ways, but you just don’t want that to boil over to the point where he might pick up a silly red card."
England last faced Slovakia back in 2017, with the Three Lions winning 2-1 courtesy of goals from Eric Dier and Marcus Rashford.