Jobe Bellingham set for Club World Cup role as Dortmund make Sunderland transfer decision.

The Black Cats star could leave Wearside for Germany, with a £40 million deal on the way.

Borussia Dortmund are confident they will complete a deal for Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham before the June 10 transfer deadline, with the 19-year-old potentially set to play in the Club World Cup later this month.

 

The Bundesliga club has made the Black Cats midfielder their top transfer target, and they are willing to meet their £40 million asking price. Jobe, who helped Sunderland reach the Premier League last month, is set to join his brother Jude at Dortmund.

Jobe has been the subject of intense transfer speculation in recent months, with Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt leading the race to sign him. However, it appears Dortmund has won the race, with the youngster heading to Signal Iduna Park.

He has had an excellent season with Sunderland, winning Championship Player of the Year at a ceremony last month and playing a key role in Regis Le Bris’ side’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Wembley to return to the top flight after an eight-year absence.

While Sunderland will not stand in his way, they will stand firm on their valuation, and while talks with Dortmund have yet to begin, reports in Germany indicate that they have decided to meet the Black Cats’ demands.

If a deal is completed before the June 10 deadline, Jobe will be eligible to play for Dortmund in the Club World Cup. The Die Schwarzgelben will compete in three group matches in the United States later this month, against Brazilian side Fluminense, South African Mamelodi Sundowns, and South Korean Ulsan HD.

Jobe has been called up to the England squad for this summer’s European Under-21 Championships, but Under-21 manager Lee Carsley has confirmed that players will be released to compete in the Club World Cup.

“We’re supporting all of the players,” he told the crowd. “We have time in our schedule to ensure that they have the opportunity to have a medical or speak with a club representative. We help them with that.

“Of course, I would prefer that they be here. You want your strongest squad, but we have to prioritise the players, and that is exactly what we are doing.

“I believe this is something we have been planning for. We knew we could lose two or three along the way.”

Sunderland should also expect interest in Jobe’s midfield partner Dan Neil from Everton, who is an academy graduate.

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