Sunderland agreed a club record sum of nearly £28 million, plus add-ons, to sell top midfielder Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund, despite their recent promotion.
The 19-year-old’s departure is a significant blow to Regis Le Bris’ team as they prepare to play Premier League football at the Stadium of Light next season.
Sunderland have yet to complete their first signing of the summer transfer window, which is now reopened ahead of the major kickoff in August.
However, Everton’s former CEO Keith Wyness, who worked at Goodison Park from 2004 to 2009 and now operates a football consultancy advising elite clubs, believes Bellingham’s high-profile departure will give the Black Cats an advantage in the market.
According to Wyness, the Wonderkids will relocate to Sunderland from Bellingham.
Speaking on the latest episode of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness argued that other elite young players will take note of Sunderland as a viable destination following Bellingham’s move to Borussia Dortmund.
Le Bris’ team was already the youngest in the Championship last season, but they advanced to the Premier League after defeating Coventry and Sheffield United in the play-offs.
Wyness stated that the £28 million-plus price will offer Sunderland “ammunition to work with” in what will be a difficult period.
He told Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast that Sunderland made around £70 million from four player sales recently.
“That is something that young athletes will look into.
“They will see a pathway at a club like Sunderland and then progress elsewhere.
“This transaction will benefit Sunderland. It was unavoidable; they would eventually lose Bellingham.
“I think they’ve done it correctly.
“He has a slightly different talent than his brother, but they will both be excellent players.
“Sunderland has some significant questions to solve this summer, but this provides them some ammunition to work with.
“It also improves their reputation among fresh talent worldwide. It demonstrates that there is a pathway to the bigger clubs.
Sunderland target Coufal deal.
Last week (June 11), Football Insider learned that freshly promoted Leeds, Burnley, and Sunderland are keeping an eye on free agent Vladimir Coufal.
Everton, Wolves, and Fulham are also interested in the right-back, whose move from West Ham has already been confirmed.
The 55-cap international has made 147 Premier League appearances and was a key member of the West Ham team that won the Uefa Conference League 2023.
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