Sunderland AFC must be ready for Jobe Bellingham transfer activity - View | OneFootball

Young midfielder Jobe Bellingham continues to impress with his performances for Sunderland, and will inevitably have attracted the attention of others

Having a famous older sibling or relative within the game can weigh heavy on some players who struggle to deal with the comparisons. This certainly isn't the case for Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham, however, who's consistent performances for the Wearside club will definitely have attracted the attention of other clubs.

Like his brother Jude, two years his senior and a global star with Real Madrid and the England national team, Bellingham began his career with Birmingham City, making his debut as a 16-year-old in 2021.

Going on to make 26 appearances in league and cup for the Blues, the youngster joined Sunderland, then a Championship rival, for an undisclosed fee on the same day his brother left Borussia Dortmund for Real Madrid in 2023.

Since the move, the graceful midfielder has gone on to make himself an important part of a Black Cats side that have started the Championship season well under new French coach Régis Le Bris.

The 19-year-old has already played over 50 times for the North East outfit, who have become a well-balanced unit, free-flowing in attack and steadfast when defending.

Bellingham, similar to his brother, is an all-action midfielder who glides past opponents and looks to drive his side forward whenever possible.

The youngster has the necessary tenacity to compete in the ever-competitive engine room in second-tier clashes, but he also has the ability to come up with an exceptional, match-defining moment, and his complete game and potential for further growth has already attracted interest from North London Premier League sides Arsenal and Tottenham, among others.

Bellingham's special strike in Derby victory has drawn further attention

Over the 14 months Bellingham has spent with Sunderland, the midfielder has featured in the vast majority of their matches, scoring eight goals in that time.

The dynamic Stourbridge-born player will be keen to add more goals to his game as he progresses and improves, but he's already shown a penchant for the spectacular.

The youngster scored his first goal of the season in the recent 2-0 victory over Derby County at the Stadium of Light, and what a strike it was.

Picking up a loose ball thirty yards from goal, Bellingham pounced to drive a long-distance strike beyond Rams' goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom to put his side ahead five minutes before half-time.

The goal was symptomatic of what the 19-year-old is about as a player, a mix of anticipation, determination, confidence, and quality, and while the youngster is very much his own man, he does share many traits with his more famous older brother.

There was a huge reaction on social media to Bellingham's latest strike, and in tandem with his impressive, yet constantly improving all round game and abilities, it's inevitable that interest in the midfielder will continue to grow.

Given his relative youth and high potential ceiling, Bellingham Jnr could go right to the very top in the way his brother has. While London-based Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Brentford have already expressed an interest, the midfielder has the ability to go even higher, with Real Madrid continuing to monitor the situation and the possibility of linking Jobe up with Jude.

Now with a good amount of EFL experience under his belt at a young age, combined with his good recent form, the aforementioned clubs may feel now is the time to act and get a lead on their competitors in the chase for the 19-year-old.

Bellingham contracted to Sunderland until 2028

Despite the regular interest from other clubs, Bellingham signed a new four-year contract at the Stadium of Light in August, tying him to Sunderland until the summer of 2028.

Upon agreeing the deal, The Athletic reported that the midfielder told safc.com: "I’m buzzing to sign this contract and extend my stay at Sunderland. I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business and I believe we can achieve some great things this season.

"This is such an amazing city and I’m so proud to represent the people within it. Everyone has made me feel right at home and I couldn’t imagine playing for a Club where it didn’t mean as much as it does to our fans."

If Sunderland were to maintain their good form across the season and be promoted to the Premier League, there's a chance the midfielder may remain with the club for years to come.

However, the Bellingham brand means he's already a well-known figure, while his impressive displays have already courted the interest of others, and special moments like the one against Derby last week will have certainly strengthened the desire of other clubs to add the youngster to their ranks at the earliest possibility.