Two Champions League giants are in talks to sign ‘exceptional’ Championship talent this summer 

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Championship clubs are set for a thrilling summer transfer window of incomings, but several players could also leave for pastures new.

The 2024/25 Championship campaign reached an exciting climax on Saturday. Tommy Watson’s late winner from the bench sent Sunderland to the Premier League at Sheffield United’s expense.

Sunderland will plan to do the impossible by staying in England’s top flight, but while promotion could see numerous players remain, one is seemingly on his way out.

Eintracht Frankfurt are pushing to sign Jobe Bellingham alongside Borussia Dortmund, with the 19-year-old travelling to Germany for talks.

Frankfurt and Dortmund can promise Bellingham Champions League football in 2025/26, and he isn’t the only Championship talent potentially heading for Europe’s elite competition.

• READ MORE: Sunderland destined to struggle next season as fans make Premier League prediction, only one thing can save them

Norwich City star Borja Sainz is in talks with Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal

Although Norwich City are close to appointing Liam Manning as their new manager, stealing him from second-tier rivals Bristol City, the Canaries are preparing to lose star attacker Borja Sainz.

Sheffield United were linked with Sainz in March, who netted an impressive 18 goals in the Championship last term, with two Champions League clubs now chasing his signature.

According to The Pink Un, the 24-year-old has been in talks with Athletic Bilbao after speaking to football chief Mikel González since the end of the season.

Sainz posted on his social media accounts of him back in Bilbao last week watching Tottenham beat Manchester United in the Europa League final, and now he could return to the club where he started his career.

After posting an eye-catching campaign in England’s second tier, the Spaniard also has interest from another Champions League club in Villarreal.

• READ MORE: Gary Lineker pays tribute to ‘incredible’ Jamie Vardy as Leicester City prepare for the Championship

What Ben Knapper has said about Sainz’s future

Sainz was in the race for the Championship Golden Boot for a while before a late flurry from Leeds United’s Joel Piroe saw him steal the prize with 19 goals.

But after recording his best career return to date, sporting director Ben Knapper accepts that he can’t stand in the way of players wanting Premier League or Champions League football.

“If a player gets a fantastic opportunity to go and play in the Premier League or in a Champions League level, and a club steps forward with a proposal that is of a requisite level, then you have to be reasonable as well,” Knapper said at the end of the season. “That’s just a dynamic that all clubs face when you’ve got good players in a good squad.”

While fellow forward Josh Sargent could leave alongside the ‘exceptional’ Sainz, Norwich have already made their first signing, capturing Jacob Wright from Manchester City, even before Manning arrives through the door.