Player continues to attract interest from Germany but Sunderland eager to keep him in the Premier League
Jobe Bellingham’s future remains unresolved after the 19-year-old midfielder reportedly rejected a move to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, fuelling speculation over whether he will stay at Sunderland in the Premier League next season.
Bellingham recently visited Frankfurt’s Commerzbank-Arena with his parents to tour the club’s facilities and hold discussions with representatives, according to German outlet Frankfurter Rundschau. But despite the club’s strong interest the teenage talent, who played a vital role as Sunderland secured promotion to the Premier League after a nine-year absence, has opted against joining the German outfit.
The decision puts the spotlight back on Sunderland, who are eager to retain the England youth international for their first season in the Premier League since 2016–17. Club sources say the Black Cats remain hopeful of convincing Bellingham to commit to another season under manager Regis Le Bris. Tom Watson, who scored the decisive goal in the play-off final at Wembley to secure promotion, has already been snapped up by Premier League side Brighton.
Besides Frankfurt, Bellingham continues to attract interest from Germany. RB Leipzig are said to be tracking him, while Borussia Dortmund – where his brother Jude rose to stardom before moving to Real Madrid – are monitoring the situation closely. The German side have a reputation for boosting the careers of young players who are coming through, with Jude a typical example.
No formal offers have been made towards Bellingham. For now, he will travel to Ibiza for a holiday with his older brother. Any decisions about a move will likely be made over the summer.
