"£30m-£40m" - Pundit makes Jobe Bellingham claim after Sunderland AFC development | OneFootball

The Black Cats will reportedly accept a "huge" offer for the midfielder in the summer.

Carlton Palmer has backed Sunderland AFC to let go of Jobe Bellingham in the summer, but only if a substantial bid is made.

This comes after it was revealed by Football Insider that the Black Cats are willing to accept a "huge" offer for the 19-year-old at the end of the season if promotion to the Premier League is not won.

Regis Le Bris' side have lost ground in the battle for the top in recent weeks, and back to back home draws against bottom side Plymouth Argyle and away strugglers Watford FC has seen the Wearsiders fall away from Leeds United and Sheffield United.

Nevertheless, with just under a third of the season still to play, there is more than enough time for Sunderland to catch back up to the league leaders and make their return to the top flight after last playing in the division in 2017.

Palmer urges Sunderland to accept a big offer for Bellingham

At the start of the start of the season, few would have predicted the Black Cats to be in the position that they find themselves in, but this young team has been excellent over the course of the last six months.

However, the relative success that they have enjoyed so far does put them at risk of having some of their key players targeted ahead of the summer transfer window and promotion may be required to ensure that they stay at the Stadium of Light.

Bellingham is just one of several young stars to have been the subject of Premier League interest, and this will return once the campaign concludes.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, former England and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, Carlton Palmer, has urged Sunderland to accept a bid for the teenager in the summer if the price is right.

"Sunderland are bracing themselves for an uncertain summer again," he started. Every transfer window’s uncertain for Sunderland, with so many talented young players within their football club.

"The one player that's receiving a lot of attention at the moment is Jobe Bellingham and Sunderland are reported to have said that they will accept a huge offer for Bellingham in the summer.

"They’ve got him under contract to the summer of 2028, so Sunderland are firmly in control of the situation and then I suppose a lot will depend on whether they can get promotion or not. They're in a very, very strong position still fighting for the automatic places.

"They will certainly be in the play-offs, so they're going to have a chance of getting promotion, but should they not get promotion, then one or two of their young starlets are bound to be subject to big offers."

Palmer continued: "What type of figure would they sell him for? I think it's got to be in the £30m-£40m bracket. Obviously, they won't want to sell all their young players, but they'll sell one for a big amount of money that will balance the books for them to have an assault the following season should they not get promoted."

"Should they get promoted, Bellingham is guaranteed to be playing in the Premier League next season, and you could well still see him at Sunderland. This speculation is surrounding the event in which Sunderland don't get promoted and then you have the Premier League giants like Arsenal and Manchester United keeping tabs on him.

"You also have the likes of Crystal Palace, and you've got to make the right steps when you move from a club, especially at Bellingham's age, you want to go and play. Tottenham are big admirers of him too, and we've seen how Tottenham are with young players.

"But he needs to carry on his education and keep playing so we'll see. As we've always said, money talks and we'll see what happens at the end of this season.

"I reckon 100%, unless they get an unbelievable offer for him and they don’t get promoted, Bellingham will be playing his football at the Stadium of Light next season," he concluded.

Bellingham will be difficult to keep hold of

While there will be a great desire to see Bellingham flourish on Wearside for the next few years, without promotion that will be incredibly difficult, but the Black Cats will be able to command a huge fee for him.

At just 19, there is a maturity and class to his game that few have shown at this level at a similar age before. The midfielder oozes talent and possesses leadership that goes way beyond his years, and that simply has to be put on show in one of Europe's top leagues.

Those in the Premier League have already missed out on one of the Bellingham brothers, and there is a need and a want from many in the division to ensure that it does not happen again.

For Sunderland, this is not what is needed, but they do have the chance to keep a grasp on their number seven if they win promotion.