Sunderland have been tipped to sell one of their most promising players for up to £15 million this summer.
Sunderland have found themselves swarming with young players this season, which has often been at fault for their dramatic decline.
The Black Cats reached the play-offs in the first season back in the Championship, but things haven’t gone quite as planned this time round.
With the likes of Danny Batth and Alex Pritchard leaving, the team’s lack of experience has proven to be a huge barrier for a very youthful side.
Kristjaan Speakman is likely to lead a very busy transfer window this summer, while he will also be looking to bring in the right manager after his disastrous appointment of Michael Beale in December.
While they will need to bring in some fresh faces, they also face losing a number of their prized assets such as Jack Clarke, Anthony Patterson and Dan Neil.
Sunderland can cash in on Jobe for £15m
The Black Cats will be desperate to keep hold of their biggest names, but they have actually been encouraged to sell one of their most exciting youngsters in Jobe Bellingham.
Speaking to Football League World, pundit Carlton Palmer said: “He’s had a fantastic season, he’s a huge talent. Sunderland paid £3million for him from Birmingham City last summer. So I think it’s a bit early for Jobe to go, but that’s the platform that Sunderland work with.
“If they can get him out the door now for £10-15million then I’m sure they will do and that will help them rebuild and bring in other young players, that’s the format that they’ve set out.
“Disappointing for the Sunderland supporters because last season under Tony Mowbray this young team were in the play-offs and only two games away from being promoted to the Premier League and that would’ve been back to back promotions.
“So it’s amazing how things change very quickly since Tony Mowbray left the football club and, obviously, with things not going well at the moment at Sunderland, they’re looking to bring a new manager in so maybe Jobe will want to move on.”
Sunderland would be stupid to let him go so soon
Fans know by now that our ‘model’ means we will be parting ways with our best players for good money most summers, but to sell Jobe Bellingham already seems ridiculous.
The midfielder has barely been able to show even a quarter of his potential after such a poor season from the entire team, while he has barely been able to rest.
Jobe needs another pre-season under his belt, a decent manager and a steady campaign and there is no doubt he can be miles better next time round.
To sell him for less than £15 million now would be crazy, especially when his price could be hiked up in a years time, if he manages to help us reach the play-offs once again.
The teenager has so much potential and it would be a shame for us to barely see it on display at the Stadium of Light before we look to cash in – and I honestly think he will be happy to stay for another season too.