Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray may have played down talk of the club signing Jobe Bellingham this summer, but now fresh reports suggest negotiations are already at an advanced stage with the Black Cats hopeful of concluding a deal.
The 17-year-old Birmingham City midfielder, who is the younger brother of Dortmund and England midfielder Jude, was at the Stadium of Light last week to watch Sunderland go 2-1 up against Luton Town in play-offs. Bellingham, who has previously been linked with Sunderland, caused a stir by turning up to watch the game.
Asked about the presence of the rising star at the Stadium of Light, Mowbray said; "One of my coaches is very close to the Bellingham family, he talks on national telly about his big brother at Dortmund, so maybe he's come to watch a big game because his season has finished. I don't know the answer [why Bellingham was at the game]. It's not something I am really privy to, to be honest."
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The coach Mowbray refers to is Mike Dodds, who played a part in the emergence of the Belllingham brothers in the Birmingham City academy. While the presence of Bellingham was played down last week, there are growing reports a deal to bring the player to Sunderland is close to being completed for £3m.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano commented: “Sunderland are set to sign Jobe Bellingham. Bellingham will travel to Sunderland for medical tests in the next 10 days.”
Bellingham's rapid rise to prominence continued this season with 23 appearances for Birmingham, all but one of those coming in the Championship.
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