Arsenal face £500,000 Jude Bellingham reminder after Champions League draw

Arsenal could be set for a reminder of what might have been after discovering their path to the Champions League final in Munich.

If Mikel Arteta's men can overcome PSV Eindhoven in the round of 16, they will face the victors of the Madrid derby between Real and Atletico in the quarter-finals. The 15-time Champions League/European Cup winners will be favourites to triumph over their city rivals across two legs.

A potential Arsenal vs Real quarter-final clash would pit the Gunners against Jude Bellingham, a player they nearly signed a decade ago. Even at a young age, Bellingham's exceptional talent had caught the eye of Premier League scouts.

As an under-14 player, he was invited to tour London Colney. According to The i, the Gunners were optimistic that a £500,000 bid would lure him away from his childhood club, Birmingham City.

However, after discussions with his family, who have always played a key role in his career decisions, it was decided that Bellingham should remain at Birmingham. It wasn't long before he was training with the first-team squad at the age of 15, making his senior debut just a year later.

Chelsea had also shown interest in Bellingham during his early days, but he chose to join Borussia Dortmund over the Premier League for a now seemingly bargain price of £25million in 2020. Fast forward three years, and after establishing himself as one of Europe's top midfielders, he made a move to Real Madrid for a fee that could potentially rise to £115m.

He already boasts a Champions League medal after Real beat Dortmund in last season's Champions League final. Arsenal are still chasing European football's most prestigious trophy, with Bellingham possibly standing in their way this year.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have been pitted against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, while Aston Villa will take on Belgian outfit Club Brugge. If both teams triumph in their respective ties, a quarter-final clash between Villa and Liverpool is on the cards.

With all three remaining Premier League teams in the same half of the draw, an all-English semi-final is possible if Arsenal beat PSV and the winners of the Madrid derby.