The Black Cats are looking at one Premier League man to be the successor of Jobe Bellingham at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Sunderland managed to survive the entirety of the January transfer window without selling any of their key men as they look to continue to mount their Championship promotion push.
Whilst Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham had plenty of suitors linked up ahead of the window, with Premier League and Champions League sides showing interest in the midfield pair, but it was actually Tommy Watson stealing the headlines on deadline day, as the 18-year-old edged close to a move to Brighton, which didn’t materialise.
Unfortunately for Sunderland and Kristjaan Speakman, the Black Cats won’t have long to rest as the interest will likely be drummed up once again at the end of the campaign. One player that the Black Cats are expecting to have major interest in the summer is Bellingham, and Speakman is already showing signs of weighing up a replacement.
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Sunderland set to target former Man City gem Tommy Doyle as ‘long-term’ Jobe Bellingham replacement
It won’t be a surprise to see Sunderland without Bellingham going into the 2025/26 season, especially if Regis Le Bris’ side are unable to achieve promotion to the Premier League, which has led Speakman to already look towards potential suitors for the wonderkid.
As a result of the uncertainty surrounding Bellingham’s long-term future at the club, per Alan Nixon on Patreon, Sunderland reportedly want Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Tommy Doyle as his replacement.
Nixon also reports that Sunderland believe that a ‘major bid’ is likely in the summer for the 19-year-old ace.
Fellow promotion chasers Sheffield United reportedly attempted to sign Doyle in January, who the former Man City youngster used to play for, but the Blades were snubbed by Wolves.
Tommy Doyle has Championship experience and excitement to be suitable Jobe Bellingham replacement
It is clear that Bellingham will be incredibly difficult for Sunderland to replace, if he is to move on in the near future, and the feeling of inevitability surround the midfielder moving on means that Speakman is seeking a replacement proactively.
In terms of players that are likely to be available for Sunderland, Doyle would be in the higher threshold in regards to quality, especially at Championship level.
His short spell at Sheffield United saw him help Paul Heckingbottom’s side to promotion to the Premier League in the 2022/23 season, where he was a constant at central-midfield with the Blades.