Sky Sports pundit reveals what Jobe Bellingham will be ‘thinking’ as Sunderland star faces ‘enormous’ decision

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Jobe Bellingham is involved in a transfer tug of war featuring multiple clubs, and the Sunderland star will have one thing on his mind.

After Tommy Watson fired Sunderland into the Premier League, there was pandemonium at Wembley Stadium as the Black Cats returned to the top flight for the first time since 2017.

A promotion has strengthened Sunderland financially and their ability to attract some of the continent’s best talent, but it hasn’t prevented clubs from showing intrigue in Jobe Bellingham.

The 19-year-old has attracted interest from three of Germany’s big hitters, including RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Jude Bellingham’s former club, Borussia Dortmund.

Sunderland don’t want to sell Bellingham, with Regis Le Bris seeing him as a crucial player in their hopes of staying in the Premier League, yet the lure of moving to Germany can offer him something the North East giants can’t.

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Jobe Bellingham will be tempted by Champions League football

It appeared Frankfurt were leading the race for Bellingham, as the Englishman visited the training ground with his mum and dad on Monday, meeting up with Commerzbank Arena director Markus Krosche along the way.

But since then, Bellingham has reportedly rejected a move to Frankfurt, perhaps favouring a move to Dortmund instead.

Jobe could follow in the footsteps of his brother, who became a superstar in the Bundesliga before joining Real Madrid, and Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman thinks that with Sunderland expected to ‘struggle’ in the top flight, it will be difficult for him to turn down a shot at Champions League football.

Speaking to Football League World, Goodman said: “It’s a really tricky one – isn’t it – for Jobe Bellingham, really. Newly-promoted to the Premier League, so he could be a Premier League player next season.

“But, is he thinking, in his heart of hearts, like most people will think, Sunderland might struggle,” the former Black Cats striker claimed. “And, by going to either Frankfurt or Borussia Dortmund, he would be a Champions League player.

“That could be an enormous pull in this situation. Obviously, he’s got his brother’s experience of the Bundesliga to call upon, so it’s a difficult one and a very, very hard question to answer (whether he will stay or depart).”

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Bellingham can become a Premier League star

Should Dortmund lodge an offer for Bellingham, it would be difficult for him to turn it down, despite previously stating he doesn’t want to follow the same path as his brother.

The teenager, however, needs to look at the bigger picture. He’s guaranteed a starting role at Sunderland in the Premier League, and can develop even more under Le Bris.

Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be guaranteed to become a regular starter at Dortmund, which would arguably stagnate his development.

Surely, knowing how excellent the Black Cats are at developing talent, he should stay for at least one more season and then make a move. Admittedly, though, no one could blame him for being sold on the prospect of Champions League football.