Sunderland are resolute in retaining Jobe Bellingham despite increasing interest from Premier League clubs and European sides.
The 18-year-old England Under-19 midfielder, who made 45 appearances and scored seven goals in the Championship this season, has caught the eye of Tottenham, Brentford, and Crystal Palace. He was also seen at Wembley, supporting his brother Jude in Real Madrid’s Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Although Dortmund has shown interest in Jobe, he intends to forge his own path after moving from Birmingham to Sunderland last year.
Sunderland’s owner, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, views Bellingham as crucial for the team’s promotion aspirations after a 16th-place finish. Louis-Dreyfus is expected to demand over £20 million for Bellingham, who has four years left on his contract. Birmingham holds a 15% sell-on clause.
In other transfer news, Brentford is linked with Sunderland’s former Spurs winger Jack Clark, while Southampton also shows interest.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace is close to signing Daichi Kamada from Lazio and Chadi Riad from Barcelona. Kamada will reunite with Palace’s new manager Oliver Glasner, his former coach at Eintracht Frankfurt.
West Ham faces challenges in their £25.5 million bid for Palmeiras winger Luis Guilherme, as personal terms stall the deal.
The club’s technical director, Tim Steidten, remains hopeful but fears Guilherme may move to the Saudi Pro League. Additionally, West Ham’s pursuit of Flamengo’s Fabrício Bruno seems to be slipping away, with the defender also likely heading to the SPL for higher wages.
