Borussia Dortmund are in negotiations to sign 19-year-old Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham, the younger brother of ex-England international and current Real Madrid player Jude Bellingham, who played for the German club before he became one of the world's most valuable players.
Spanish newspaper Marca break the news, and they have revealed that Borussia Dortmund, Jobe, and Sunderland have initiated talks to sign him. Dortmund are looking to finalize the move prior to June 10, the registration date for the Club World Cup.
Dortmund's move is no surprise. This is because the team is looking to replicate the formula through which they had success several years back. The team had signed Jude at a tender age from Birmingham and he would instantly become part of the team's spine. His impact so great such that he would eventually get sold to the Spanish side, Real Madrid, for 110 million euros. Dortmund now see Jobe as yet another opportunity to invest in young players with so much future development potential.
Borussia Dortmund Model
Over the last two years, Borussia Dortmund has been among the top development clubs across Europe. Acquiring young talent, playing them, and then selling them at profit is the tradition of the academy now. The best and the most recent example is the case of Jude Bellingham. There have been other players too who have followed the same journey, including the names of Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, and Ousmane Dembélé.
Jobe's potential future showdown checks all the boxes. He is young and has already had professional competition exposure, and he has a European passport, all the requirements the team has had in the past. To all this is added the family legacy overall in European football. The stay at Dortmund made such an unforgettable impression on Jude, it still resonates among the team. This is indeed a situation where the development project can operate at the best possible level.
There is much riding on Sunderland
It is a business move for Sunderland, having been promoted to the Premier League and now having the need to build up its competitive squad. Releasing one of its key players now would pave the way for the introduction of new players but at the risk of letting the young, high-ceiling talent get away. The English team has to decide to release Jobe now or retain him to get the most out of him in the first division. Economic constraint and the wish of the player are also part of the equation.
Management knows very well that after their promotion to the Premier League, the stakes for Jobe might get higher. That is why they would like to move him before other teams can come with more serious offers. The club's good history with the youngster could have a central part in the pitch. Presenting the way Jude developed, fought to find himself, and ended up becoming an idol at Dortmund can convince the player and his entourage.