Jobe

MANCHESTER UNITED are one of multiple Premier League clubs interested in Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude.

Bellingham, 20, followed in his brother’s footsteps when he left newly-promoted Sunderland to join German giants Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

3

3

But now, according to reports from German outlet Bild, the midfielder’s next move could bring him back to the UK.

The highly-rated prospect has struggled to find minutes under manager Niko Kovac after starting in the opening two games of the season.

He has played just 74 minutes in the four league games since those games, and could grow frustrated at the lack of opportunities at the club, having been the main man at Sunderland last season.

These frustrations didn’t take long to boil over, with Jobe’s father Mark Bellingham reportedly storming to the dressing room to confront club officials after the youngster was substituted at half-time in their season opener against St Pauli.

The fallout from the scene saw the families of all players banned from the dressing room at Signal Iduna Park.

And it was not the only distraction affecting the youngster off the field, following news emerging on Monday that Mark and Jobe’s mother Denise Bellingham have appeared to separate after more than twenty years together.

United would pose an interesting option for the Stourbridge native to rekindle his meteoric rise, with their midfield struggles being one of their biggest issues under Ruben Amorim this season.

There is a sense that despite having much left to prove on the biggest stages, Bellingham could make an instant impact at Old Trafford.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

3

However, if game time is the deal-breaker in Dortmund, then tales such as that of the consistently snubbed teenager Kobbie Mainoo could be a warning sign to steer clear.

Bellingham joined the Germans in summer for a fee of £27million, and it is hard to picture the Red Devils getting him for anything less than that.

Another club interested in the England youth international’s services is reportedly Crystal Palace, who were also interested in him while he was with the Black Cats.

Palace have been excellent this season, sitting four places above United in sixth, despite having European football to contend with.

He could partner Eagles starlet Adam Wharton, or potentially open the door for an exit for the 21-year-old, who United are also interested in.

Jude Bellingham presents a tactical conundrum for new manager Xabi Alonso.

In his first season at Real Madrid he was fantastic, scoring 23 goals in 42 games while playing in an advanced midfield role to help Real Madrid to the 2023-24 La Liga and Champions League titles.

Last term he was pushed deeper and wider to accommodate Kylian Mbappe and only managed 14 strikes in 53 games as Real failed to win a major trophy.

At Alonso’s unveiling as Real manager he said he saw Bellingham more as a central midfielder and that’s where he started against Pachuca on Sunday – in the central left position of a 4-3-3.

But, when Raul Asencio was sent off after seven minutes, Madrid switched to a 4-4-1 with Bellingham playing even more centrally and driving from deep.

Two minutes after the tactics were tweaked during a first-half drinks break Bellingham made a late run into the box, picked up the ball from Fran Garcia and smashed a shot into the bottom corner.

It was 10-man Madrid’s first meaningful attack and changed the entire momentum of the match.

“When Bellingham comes from deep and arrives, he is phenomenal. That is an amazing goal and that is where he plays best,” former Italy striker Christian Vieri told DAZN.

“Alonso is the coach, he has to find a way to make them play. Bellingham scored so many goals before Mbappe arrived.

“It’s not our problem, it is Alonso’s problem and he is going to be having sleepless nights.”

Ex-Chelsea midfielder Jon-Obi Mikel added: “That is where Bellingham is best, when he arrives late from midfield.

“No one can stop Jude in that role because he has the power and energy, he can be very special when doing that.”

One of Alonso’s biggest problems this season – and one which former boss Carlo Ancelotti struggled to solve – will be keeping all his stars happy.

Mikel added: “You have to play the players in their best positions because big players want to play in their best positions and that is the problem Xabi Alonso is going to have.

“We know Mbappe wants to play out on the left but they have one of the best players there in Vinicius Jr so where do you play him? He doesn’t like playing through the middle.

“It is a massive problem for Xabi Alonso. If he can find a way to solve the problem then he may have a team. They need to play as a team not as individuals.”

German football club Borussia Dortmund sign Jobe Bellingham, who follows in the footsteps of Real Madrid star his brother Jude.

Borussia Dortmund have signed English midfielder Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland until 2030, five years after bringing older brother Jude to the club.

Dortmund announced the signing on Tuesday, the final day of the FIFA Club World Cup transfer window.

“The England U21 international put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the eight-time German champions on Tuesday morning,” Dortmund said in a statement.

Dortmund reportedly paid a fee of around 33 million euros ($38m), with five million euros ($5.7m) in additional bonuses, to secure the midfielder’s services, the most the club has paid up front for a player.

“I’m very happy to be a Borussia Dortmund player now and to fight for titles together with this great club,” said 19-year-old Bellingham.

“I want to play my part in celebrating success with these great fans here and will work on myself and with the team every day. And I’m very happy that I’ll be wearing the black and yellow jersey at the FIFA Club World Cup.”

Dortmund’s transfer record remains the 35 million euros ($40m) paid to bring Ousmane Dembele from Rennes in 2018 – although this was originally 15 million euros ($17m), which rose by 20 million ($23m) in sell-on fees once the player transferred to Barcelona.

“Jobe is an extremely talented footballer with an impressive level of maturity and intelligence on the pitch for someone so young,” said Lars Ricken, Borussia Dortmund’s managing director for sport.

“We have no doubt that he’s the perfect fit for our philosophy of developing talented youngsters and giving them the opportunity to improve and establish themselves at the highest level.

“His professionalism, his dynamism and his hunger to succeed will make him a real asset for our team.”

At 19, Jobe is two years younger than his Real Madrid and England midfielder brother.

In moving to Dortmund, Jobe will follow in Jude’s footsteps of trading the Championship for the Bundesliga and the Westfalenstadion.

After leaving Birmingham City, Jude spent three seasons at Dortmund and has become one of the most recognisable players in world football since joining Real in 2023.

As he did at Sunderland, the younger Bellingham will wear “Jobe” on his jersey at Dortmund rather than his last name in a bid to distinguish himself from his brother.

Jobe scored four goals and laid on three assists in 40 games for Sunderland this season as he helped the club win promotion to the Premier League.

Jobe’s signing means the two brothers could face off in this season’s expanded Club World Cup in the United States, if Dortmund meet Real Madrid during the knockouts of the competition.

Jude Bellingham joined Dortmund from boyhood club Birmingham in 2020, at age 17 and for around 23 million euros ($26m), a fee that rose to 30 million euros ($34m) when a sell-on fee was added after his 100-million-euro ($114m) move to Real Madrid.

He made 132 appearances in yellow and black, scoring 24 times and laying on 25 assists, and helped the club win the German Cup in 2021 alongside Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho.

After leaving Dortmund, Jude faced off against his former side in the 2023-24 Champions League final, with Real winning 2-0 at Wembley.

Jobe became the second-youngest Birmingham City player behind his brother when he made his debut aged 16 years and 107 days.

He was named the young player of the season in the English second flight, again following in his brother’s footsteps, five years on.

“He’s fit as a fiddle and raring to go,” said club sporting director Sebastian Kehl.

“He’s determined to forge his own path at Borussia Dortmund and make his mark on how we play, and we’re confident that he will do exactly that,” Kehl added.

After a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, Dortmund snuck into fourth place after a late-season flurry, picking up 22 of a possible 24 points in their final eight games. The club will take part in next season’s Champions League.

Dortmund kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Fluminense on June 17.

Liam Delap has not been selected in England’s Under-21 squad for this month’s European Championship.

The 22-year-old has just completed a £30m move from Ipswich to Chelsea and is now expected to travel to the United States with his new club for the Club World Cup.

Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham is in the squad, despite interest in the midfielder from German side Borussia Dortmund, who will also take part in the Club World Cup which runs from 14 June to 13 July.

The U21 Euros will take place across eight host cities in Slovakia from 11-28 June.

More to follow.