Sunderland warned Jobe Bellingham 'won't resist chance' to join Borussia Dortmund after 'looking at how they guided' his brother Jude

Back in 2020, having made a senior breakthrough at Birmingham when just 16 years of age, Jude Bellingham made the brave call to leave his comfort zone in England and head for Germany. That decision has been thoroughly vindicated, with the England international now a Champions League winner at Real Madrid.

It is being suggested that his younger brother Jobe could soon tread a similar path. Having also started out at St Andrew’s, the 19-year-old playmaker has spent the last 18 months catching the eye for Championship promotion hopefuls Sunderland.

Dortmund are reportedly eager to bring another Bellingham onto their books, with West Midlands native and ex-England international Carlton Palmer telling Football League World of why a deal may be done. He has said: “These are worrying times for Sunderland, who sit top of the table. You know when you're doing well, your players are going to be linked with bigger clubs and that is the case with Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham. I think it's crazy when you are at the top of the league to cash in on those players. They are only young and are going to go up in value, but obviously, that is the blueprint that Sunderland have.

“Reports are coming out that Sunderland will not stand in Jobe Bellingham's way and Borussia Dortmund are confident in signing him. I think it would be a good move for him. Dortmund have shown how they develop young players in the past, and he has obviously looked at how they have helped guide his brother.

“He is a very talented player, and he will get the game time that he needs to develop and hopefully kick on. I don't think he'll resist the chance to sign for Dortmund. For me, if they were mid-table and further down the league it would be a different scenario. But, with Sunderland going great guns, to let Chris Rigg or Jobe Bellingham go would be detrimental to their promotion hopes.”

Sunderland are in a position to demand the highest possible fee for Bellingham, as they have him tied to a contract through to 2028. It has been suggested that Dortmund would need to part with around £20 million ($25m) in order to present Jobe with the same career pathway that Jude once strode down with such distinction.