Brian Deane has explained the ‘problem’ Jobe Bellingham will have if he leaves Sunderland.
Jobe Bellingham only joined Sunderland last summer, but it didn’t take him very long to be linked to some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
After a stellar start to life on Wearside, reports claimed that Real Madrid were in attendance at England U19s clash against Montenegro in October, with the Spanish giants eager to reunite him with brother Jude.
The midfielder has since been linked with the likes of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, despite struggling to keep up his form from the start of the campaign.
Jobe has continued to start for Sunderland week in week out, but his performances have come under criticism and the club have been accused of continuing to give him regular game-time due to ‘nepotism’ or a ‘contractual’ agreement.
The teenager is still likely to attract interest in the summer though, while the Black Cats will be eager to keep hold of him.
It’s unclear what Jobe’s thoughts on his situation are, but former Sunderland and Leeds United striker Brian Deane has urged him not to leave Wearside.
Speaking to Sunderland Nation, Deane said: “I really think if I was advising Jobe, he’s at a big club and there are so many things he can learn at Sunderland – a huge club.
“There’s a lot of expectation when they go out at the Stadium of Light, and he has to become their biggest player and then after that, then he’s ready for the next step.
“If he goes to a Premier League club [now], the problem he’ll have is that the Premier League is another level up. I know he’s a young kid, and there isn’t a rush with someone so young with such a bright future ahead. It’s more about making sure he’s ready.
“It’s easy to look at his brother Jude out in La Liga with Real Madrid, who is a leading light, but sometimes it’s better to play a more patient game, and Sunderland is the perfect place for his education.
“If he leaves Sunderland and goes to a Premier League club, he might end up getting farmed out on loan to a Championship club anyway.
“I think he’s at the perfect place at the moment to just learn his craft – just enjoy it because it will become very serious as soon as he does make the switch to the Premier League.”
Where does Jobe Bellingham’s future lie?
Sunderland fans were left concerned when reports emerged that Real Madrid were watching Jobe, though their opinions on him have changed quite a bit since.
The 18-year-old has been particularly poor since the turn of the year and has been dispossessed more than any other player apart from Jack Clarke.
However, fans are lying if they say he doesn’t still have bags of potential.
It is pretty clear that we have subject Jobe to burnout, with each manager we have had refusing to rest him and continuing to give him start after start, despite his form.
If we can get an exciting new coach in the summer, then he could potentially work wonders with the youngster.
It would definitely be a huge mistake to even consider letting him go because there’s clearly still a lot to come from him, though whether he wants to stay after this rollercoaster of a campaign is another question.