Sunderland AFC: New club chasing Champions League football enters Jobe Bellingham transfer race.

The race to sign Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland is heating up, with Eintracht Frankfurt reportedly joining the chase for his signature.

Bellingham, a Sunderland midfielder, has been attracting interest from clubs in England and Germany after a successful season in the Championship, where the team finished fourth.

Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have long been linked with the player, but reports in German media suggest that a third club has expressed an interest in signing him.

Eintracht Frankfurt joins the chase for Bellingham’s signature.

According to Sky Germany, Eintracht Frankfurt has expressed interest in signing Jobe Bellingham, in addition to Borussia Dortmund. Sky has learnt that Eintracht Frankfurt is also interested. RB Leipzig is also expressing interest. Bellingham is under contract with Sunderland until 2028.

According to the German newspaper Bild, Frankfurt is looking for a player like Bellingham to replace Hugo Larsson (20), who is expected to leave for England or Spain for around €50 million this summer. Furthermore, Frankfurt’s second starting midfielder, Ellyes Skhiri (30), has been inconsistent in his form.”

They additionally assert that “the younger Bellingham doesn’t want to be compared to his older brother Jude in Dortmund, as the latter had a very successful time at BVB from 2020 to 2023” . He prefers to display his first name on the back of his shirt over his surname.

Champions League qualification could hold the key to Bellingham’s future

However, whether Eintracht Frankfurt decides to pursue Bellingham or is able to persuade him to join them may be determined by a crucial match in Germany this weekend.

Frankfurt is third in the Bundesliga heading into the final round of fixtures, and they travel to fourth-placed Freiburg. The top four qualify for next season’s Champions League, but if Frankfurt loses this match, they risk being overtaken by both their opponents and Borussia Dortmund, dropping to fifth place and entering the Europa League instead of Europe’s premier club competition.

Dortmund hosts Holstein Kiel, which has already been relegated. They are three goals behind Frankfurt in terms of goal difference, so a two-goal win in their match would be enough to snatch fourth place if Frankfurt loses by one.

Figures from BBC.

The prospect of Champions League football next season would not only improve Frankfurt’s chances of retaining Bellingham for the following season. It would also help their finances to be able to make such a decision in the first place.

Bellingham may not make a decision on his future until after Sunderland’s Championship play-off final against Sheffield United. Premier League clubs may still be interested in him.

However, the fact that three major German clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Eintracht Frankfurt, are interested in him demonstrates his high status. Sunderland could benefit from a bidding war for his services, potentially exceeding the asking price of £25 million.

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