Bellingham deal heats up as European giants jet in to GATECRASH Premier League talks

The race to sign Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland is stepping up, with the Premier League’s biggest clubs being put under pressure from sides in Europe that have begun talks with the young Englishman.

Bellingham, who is Jude’s younger brother, has impressed in the Championship this season and appears destined to depart in the summer.

There is already a gentleman’s agreement in place between the 19-year-old and Sunderland that he can leave should a suitable offer arrive, with the teenager not short of options.

A six-club scramble started for Bellingham, who has been used as a more defensive midfielder than his brother, who stars for Real Madrid.

Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are among the Premier League clubs following Bellingham, but it appears that Borussia Dortmund have stolen a march on the English giants by beginning discussions with the player.

Ruhr Nachrichten reports that three leading members of Dortmund staff, including head coach Niko Kovac, travelled to Newcastle by private jet on Wednesday to speak directly to the player. On their return, the delegation would not be drawn into discussing how their talks went.

Another Bellingham success story at Dortmund?

The intention of the Bundesliga club is clear: sell their project to Jobe by underlining what they were able to do for his brother, who moved to Real Madrid 18 months ago in a blockbuster €113 million deal.

Bellingham left Birmingham City to become a star at Borussia Dortmund. He went on to play 132 tunes for the club, scoring 24 goals and generating a further 25 assists.

RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are also interested from Germany, but it is Dortmund who have made the first concrete move to sign the player.

Man Utd have been regularly credited with the closest links to the player among the Premier League clubs following him, but the latest reports point to Chelsea having the “strongest interest” in the player.

Sunderland are thought to want €25m for Bellingham, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €26.5m.