Sunderland fears eased over January exit for Arsenal, Man Utd target Jobe Bellingham | OneFootball

The Sunderland star has been attracting a lot of attention from the Premier League

Jobe Bellingham is to stay at Sunderland this January despite Premier League interest, according to a fresh report.

The 19-year-old is set to remain where he is, at the Stadium of Light, despite interest from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, according to the Sun.

He signed a new deal with the Black Cats last summer, which is due to keep him at the club until 2028.

However, the report does not rule out a big European move in the summer, with the midfielder having impressed for Sunderland so far this season, and many tipping him to follow a similar path to his Real Madrid brother, Jude.

Jobe Bellingham to remain at Sunderland until the end of the season

Bellingham has been linked with a move to a Premier League heavyweight like United or Arsenal for some time.

When a report from Football Transfers earlier this week revealed that the young midfielder has a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Sunderland — meaning he can leave for a Premier League side if a suitable offer comes in — and that Arsenal scouts had been watching him closely, the situation looked ominous for Sunderland.

The Wearsiders are going well in the Championship, currently in fourth place, within three points of league leaders Leeds United, and a lot of that is down to Bellingham’s work.

He’s started all but three of the Black Cats’ Championship games, scoring four goals and providing three assists from midfield.

This report from the Sun, claiming that Bellingham is set to stay until at least the end of this season, will be welcome news in Sunderland.

There are no guarantees for Sunderland beyond the summer

Although the Sun are reporting that the Black Cats have fended off interest this January, they do not make the same claim about the summer, revealing that he could be set to follow in Jude’s footsteps and make a switch to a top European side, to up his experience at the highest level.

The outlet goes on to state that the midfielder could cost up to £20 million to any interested party, but despite that figure, the Championship club are determined to hold on to Bellingham as they battle for promotion.

With the level of club interest, the North East side will do well to keep hold of Bellingham even if they do earn a spot in the Premier League, but without promotion, it’s difficult to see the highly-rated midfielder doing another season in the second tier.

Sunderland have put themselves in a strong position with Jobe Bellingham

Should Bellingham stay at Sunderland beyond January, you can be sure that won’t be the end of transfer talk surrounding him.

The storyline of where he might go next will rumble on, especially with the level of teams tracking him, but the Black Cats must be commended on the strong position they’ve put themselves in.

In August last year, Sunderland managed to tie Bellingham down to a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light, taking him until the end of the 2027/28 season.

If the interest in him maintains, it’s unlikely Jobe sees the entirety of that contract through, but what it does do is put his current club in an extremely strong negotiating position when the top clubs do come knocking in the summer.

Interest does not seem to be dimming in the younger Bellingham; Sunderland must make the most of him while he’s still with them. But, thanks to their summer business, they can expect a handsome fee whenever the time is right to wave goodbye.

Thankfully, however, that moment appears to have been postponed until the summer, giving the Black Cats a clear shot a promotion this term with one of their biggest talents still in their ranks.