Dortmund facing ‘huge defeat’ as Jobe Bellingham’s Sunderland story takes a twist

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There is a reason why Sunderland’s Borussia Dortmund-linked midfielder Jobe Bellingham removed his surname from the back of that red-and-white Black Cats jersey.

He may look like Jude. He may play somewhat like Jude. But, crucially, he is not Jude.

The younger brother of the Real Madrid superstar goes by ‘Jobe’ and Jobe alone these days. Well, on the back of his shirt, at least. According to his former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray, this was a decision made in an attempt to ‘create his own identity’.

“He doesn’t want to live off the back of his brother’s name,” Mowbray explained. “He wants to be the footballer that he is and show people what he can do.”

So, while Borussia Dortmund are hoping to convince Jobe Bellingham to follow in Jude’s yellow and black footsteps at the Signal Iduna Park, do not be surprised if the Sunderland teenager has his own ideas.

Frankfurt could beat Dortmund to Sunderland ace Jobe Bellingham

While Chris Rigg and Eliezer Mayeda attract interest from Europe’s powerhouse clubs, the next step in Jobe Bellingham’s career looks certain to be the German Bundesliga.

Manchester United and Crystal Palace are admirers of the 19-year-old playmaker. But, while Dortmund are confident in their stance, Bellingham could yet slap on the indicator and take the road south east to Frankfurt instead.

Sky Germany report that – having missed out on Champions League football – RB Leipzig are now a distant third-place in the battle to secure Bellingham’s signature. Frankfurt and Dortmund both finished above Leipzig in the table, and are therefore also pulling clear in pursuit of the England Under-21 international as well.

Bellingham visited Frankfurt’s stadium and their training ground with his mum and dad on Monday, meeting up with Commerzbank Arena director Markus Krosche along the way.

Only a few days earlier, Krosche made it clear how Jobe Bellingham would benefit from choosing Eintracht Frankfurt. A club committed to providing a ‘very good platform for young players’. A club who, following the big-money sales of Omar Marmoush and William Pacho, have arguably replaced a stagnating Dortmund as the Bundesliga’s greatest developer of raw potential.

Now, via Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, an unnamed Frankfurt source claims that The Eagles ‘have a very good chance’ of snatching Jobe from under Dortmund’s nose.

“Frankfurt are going full throttle,” Plettenberg adds. “They tried everything to convince the player to move.

“It was the complete package. He was shown the city, the stadium, and the offices. He met the most important people at Eintracht. What speaks for Eintracht; Champions League and little competition in his position.”

Borussia Dortmund ‘nervous’ as decision time approaches

Reporter Jesco von Eichmann believes that, if Bellingham does choose Frankfurt, this will be a cause for ‘real alarm’ at a Dortmund side who have struggled to get the best out of their brightest young prospects in the post-Jude, Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho era.

The feeling, at the 2023 Champions League finalists, is now one of ‘nervousness’.

“In Dortmund, they don’t feel like they’re in pole position for several reasons,” Patrick Berger – no, not the former Liverpool star – says on the Auffe Sud podcast.

“Going into Saturday and Sunday, Dortmund had the feeling that it was 80/20 [in their favour]. 70/30 maybe closer to 40. So, they already had the feeling that Frankfurt had the upper hand, which is why [CEO Hans-Joachim] Watzke flew in [to Sunderland] to get ahead of Frankfurt.

“There are many indications that Frankfurt will ultimately win. Jobe doesn’t want the constant comparisons with his brother. He wants to follow his own career path and is very clear about that.

“If BVB doesn’t pull this off, it will be a huge defeat for BVB. Everyone at the club knows that. The topic is hypersensitive. They are nervous.”