Arsenal reportedly tried and failed to sign Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus – with the Swedish star joining bitter rivals Tottenham instead.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Kulusevski starring for TottenhamJoined from Juventus in 2022Arsenal tried and failed to sign himFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Arsenal tried to bring the winger to the Emirates in January 2022. However, then-Tottenham manager Antonio Conte and former managing director of football Fabio Paratici convinced the Italian giants to agree on a deal for the former Atalanta man. The 21-year-old initially joined Spurs on loan later that month before making his move permanent 18 months later.
AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The report adds Tottenham paid a total of €40 million (£33m/$43m) for Kulusevski and Arsenal were not prepared to fork out that kind of fee. Since then, he has become a vital player at Spurs. This may be another case of what might have been for the Gunners.
DID YOU KNOW?
Over the course of 108 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions, the now 24-year-old has scored 176 goals and bagged 21 assists. And he could be at Spurs for a while yet as his contract runs until the summer of 2028.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Kulusevski's Tottenham side, who sit seventh in the Premier League table, travel to London neighbours Crystal Palace on Sunday before rounding off October against Manchester City in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Michael Edwards is probably draped across an ergonomic chair, feet kicked up, deep in FSG's inner complex, and smiling. It's a winning summer smile, the kind of smile that one would have as they listen to the brewing unease surrounding Liverpool's inactivity in the transfer market thus far, safe in the knowledge that they have all their ducks in a row.
Liverpool, at this point last summer, had combatted the midfield exodus with the exciting signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai; there was a growing sense that Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, both sapped of past vigour during the 2022/23 campaign, were headed to the Saudi Pro League – and indeed they were.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson.
Arne Slot has a bright squad at his disposal and will be expected to fight at the top of the Premier League table and push hard for silverware across the cup fronts, but one or two impactful signings could make a whole lot of difference, and Edwards might just have a cracker in the pipeline.
Liverpool transfer news
According to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha, Liverpool have made signing Benfica midfielder Joao Neves their 'priority' this summer, though they are aware of his €120m (£101m) release clause.
A host of top European outfits have been tracking the 19-year-old for months and the Eagles don't want to sell. A boost, however, arrives in the news that both Manchester sides have withdrawn themselves from the race.
Why Joao Neves would thrive for Arne Slot
Last summer, after Fabinho and Henderson left, Liverpool signed Wataru Endo from Stuttgart for £16m. It was a surprising signing, borne from missing out on both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea.
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo
Liverpool are the ones left tittering though, having defeated Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final and claimed a place in the Champions League whereas the Blues are turned toward the Conference League.
But Endo, 31, is not the long-term solution, nor is he mobile or technically sharp enough to rival the likes of Rodri at the height of the midfield game. Neves, while unrefined, could grow into such a figure.
The Portuguese midfielder has been hailed for his "special" qualities by analyst Ben Mattinson and has already proved himself dynamic and elite in his ball playing, ranking among the top 5% of midfielders in the Primeira Liga last term for pass completion, the top 1% for passes attempted, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
Matches played
33
34
Matches started
27
34
Goals
3
8
Assists
1
9
Touches per game
76.5
121.1
Pass completion
90%
92%
Key passes per game
0.8
1.5
Dribbles per game
1.2
1.2
Recoveries per game
6.4
6.9
Tackles per game
2.0
2.1
Interceptions per game
1.0
0.8
Clearances per game
1.0
1.2
Duels won per game
6.0
5.9
Direct errors
0
4
As you can see, he's got some way to go before reaching Rodri's godly level, but the trappings of something special are certainly distinguishable.
It would be ridiculous to assume that the Benfica starlet would be performing at a level on par with the greatest midfielder of contemporary times, but he actually showcased a skillset of similarly far-reaching ability last year.
With some tinkering here, tweaking there, Neves could grow into one of the very best. He's athletically robust, impressively technical – and intelligent besides.
If Liverpool are serious and genuinely wish to dethrone the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid next year, claiming the biggest prizes, then paying the big bucks to secure one of the most coveted signatures around is a must.
Firmino repeat: Liverpool target £25m “nightmare” who Trent would love
Callum Ferguson’s half-century and good spells from Daniel Sams and Tanveer Sangha go in vain for Sydney Thunder
Alex Malcolm12-Dec-2020Marcus Stoinis returned to his best with a blistering half-century and Adam Zampa returned remarkable figures of 2 for 10 from four overs as the Melbourne Stars announced themselves as one of the favourites for the BBL title with a second convincing win in two days, this time against the Sydney Thunder in Canberra.Stoinis, coming off three ducks in his four previous innings, clubbed 61 from 37 balls to help set up a winning total on a slow, used, spinning pitch. Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell threatened to pile up a massive total but Maxwell’s dismissal for 39 sparked a collapse, with the Stars losing 5 for 34. Australian Under-19 legspinner Tanveer Sangha took 2 for 26 on debut and held his nerve as Maxwell tried every trick in his arsenal. Daniel Sams closed out the innings taking 2 for 24.The Thunder were always behind the rate in the chase despite a classy half-century from skipper Callum Ferguson. But with Zampa producing a mesmerising spell of legspin and Liam Hatcher claiming 3 for 28 in his first appearance for the Stars, the Thunder were always behind, even though Dilbar Hussain limped off with a hamstring injury.Stoinis surges Stoinis was the leading run-scorer in last year’s BBL but his form leading into this game had been startling. In his last four innings across the IPL, ODI, T20I and BBL cricket, he had scored two golden ducks and a second-ball duck. But he made amends against the Thunder. Predictably, they attacked him with spin in the powerplay, and he answered with two fours and two sixes, launching Chris Green over mid-off twice. Stoinis hit the ball with extraordinary power throughout. He got Green again with a sublime flick through midwicket to bring up his 50 from just 29 balls. With the help of Maxwell, Stoinis pushed the Stars to 1 for 92 off the first ten overs.Marcus Stoinis celebrates his half-century•Getty ImagesThree new rules but no DRS The implementation of the new rules in the BBL has caused much debate but there is no debate about the dire need for the DRS. The Stars fell victim to two critical lbw decisions that would have been overturned had the DRS been in place and it potentially cost them a score in excess of 180. Firstly, Andre Fletcher was given out lbw to 19-year-old debutant Tanveer Sangha in the fifth over, but the ball was clearly missing leg and Fletcher wanted to review before realising the DRS wasn’t in place. Sangha bowled superbly taking 2 for 26 from his first four overs in the BBL. The second decision cost the Stars more dearly. Stoinis holed out in the 11th over for 61 but Maxwell held the key to the last ten overs and he took the Power Surge in the 14th over on a surface that was slowing by the minute. They lost Hilton Cartwright in the first over of the Power Surge but Maxwell’s dismissal in the 15th saw the Stars’ run rate hit a brick wall. He was given out lbw to Green, who was bowling around the wicket. There was no doubt it was hitting middle but it pitched just outside leg. The Stars lost 5 for 34 in the last 33 balls of the innings, with Ben Dunk the only player to find the boundary. Sams took two wickets in the final over but oddly only bowled three overs coming off his international debut for Australia.Bad things come in threes The Thunder’s rub of the green with the ball was nullified with the bat as Usman Khawaja fell victim to another decision that would have been overturned had the DRS been in place. Khawaja tried to lap Hussain and was given out caught behind. The ball appeared to have come off the pad. It stalled the Thunder’s momentum after Alex Hales had made a fast start. He and Ferguson faced 17 dot balls between them in the next 7.3 overs and the Thunder fell 24 runs short of the Power Boost point.Ferguson fifty in vain Hussain’s injury left Maxwell with two overs to fill and Ferguson and Hales took advantage. They hammered 24 runs off Cartwright’s first two overs, including two huge sixes. Hales holed out off Clint Hinchliffe for a laboured 46 off 41 but Ferguson kept rolling, reaching 50 from 33 balls with the Thunder needing a manageable 61 from 35 to win the game. But Ferguson holed out off Hatcher shortly after. Hatcher held his nerve in the critical overs that Hussain would have bowled. Maxwell turned to him in the first over of the Power Surge. He had two catches dropped off the first two balls of the 17th over but the substitute Tom O’Connell held on to the third to remove the dangerous Ben Cutting. Sams was caught at cover next ball to end Thunder hopes. Zampa, meanwhile, showed why he remains Australia’s best T20 spinner, delivering 15 dot balls and not conceding a boundary.
South Africa captain says schedule is “quite a challenge” as historic Pakistan trip looms
Firdose Moonda06-Jan-2021Quinton de Kock has described playing cricket in the time of Covid-19 as “unsettling” as South Africa prepare for at least three more bio-bubbles this summer. Next up is a historic visit to Pakistan, which will also include extra layers of security for South Africa’s first tour since 2007.With South Africa currently under Level 3 restrictions (with Level 5 being the strictest) and the lockdown likely to tighten in the face of a surging second wave of infections, de Kock said the situation is on the players’ minds, even though there is little they can do about it.”There is a lot of nerves that goes around when it comes to the bubble – lots of small things get into your mind; things that you’re not used to in life,” he said after victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka. “One day we could be living kind of normally and the next you’re in lockdown. Where do we go from there?”We’re stuck in a bubble, and we could be stuck in a lockdown in some place for a certain period of time, which is the worst case scenario. But, as a normal person, that’s the way you think about things. Bubbles just make tours longer because of the quarantine period. You stay in your room for a certain amount of time. You get out when we are declared safe. It’s very unsettling. I don’t know how long it can last for. But, for now, you try and deal with it in the best way possible.”South African cricket was largely unaffected when the coronavirus pandemic first struck last March, because their summer was at its end, but has since come face-to-face with the difficulties of playing at this time. Last month, England’s limited-overs tour was cut short before the ODIs after concerns about the integrity of the bubble as three South African players and two hotel staff tested positive, as well as two members of the England camp (who were lager confirmed negative). That necessitated stricter measures for the Sri Lanka series.Both teams have been housed at the Irene Country Club, a large estate with plenty of outdoor space (including a dam for fishing) near Pretoria, and South Africa’s coach Mark Boucher said they had created a “family feel”. Some players, like Faf du Plessis and de Kock, also had their immediate family staying with them but South Africa’s temporary Test captain still found the situation unusual and is looking forward to an escape.Related
Quinton de Kock to take mental-health break during domestic T20 campaign
'There's possibly another 100 Test matches for him' – Boucher on de Kock's special 50
SA return to winning – what went right and what still needs fixing?
Elgar becomes Mr Go-To as South Africa thrive in the Highveld
SA seal victory and 2-0 series win despite Karunaratne ton
“We are probably only going to be home for two weeks in the next three months, which is quite a challenge,” de Kock said. “Even though we’re in South Africa, we’re still in a bubble. It’s not ideal but it is what it is.”South Africa will have a week off before travelling to Pakistan on January 15. Their two-Test, three-T20 series starts on January 26.While Boucher described the confines of a tour to the subcontinent as something he is used to, he was referring to the security measures of trips to Pakistan pre-2007, which none of the current crop have experienced, and which de Kock sounded wary of.”There’s two sides to it,” de Kock said. “I’m excited to get there and play cricket. It’s a new challenge. But the rest of it, the off-the-field stuff, is another sort of challenge. The lockdown is going to be the hardest challenge that we’re going to have on our plates out there.”Of course, there is also the cricket to consider, which will be challenging for a South Africa side that have just won their first Test series since 2019 and is in a rebuilding phase. The 2-0 victory over Sri Lanka needs to be assessed in the context of injuries to seven first-choice tour members, which is what de Kock is doing.”We won the series and we won it quite convincingly but I don’t think we played our best cricket,” de Kock said. “We put ourselves under unnecessary pressure a lot of times.”South Africa’s bowlers did not always manage to keep Sri Lanka under control, while their batting suffered one noteworthy collapse – 9 for 84 at the Wanderers – and South Africa have acknowledged there is work to do including finding a permanent Test captain. de Kock has accepted the job for this season and all indications are that he will be ready to give it up when the right person comes to the fore.”I still don’t see myself going further unless they haven’t found someone who can take over,” he said. “People will start putting up their hands and guys start asking the right questions. I am sure a leader will pop up somewhere. I am happy just doing the rest of the summer but if needs be that I go a little bit longer then so be it. If somebody really steps up and shows the leadership qualities then they can take over.”
Manchester United can reportedly rope in Ruben Amorim from Sporting CP without having to pay his current release clause in full.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Man Utd could sign Amorim for a cheaper priceSporting CP have offered him new deal with three key clausesUnited face Leicester City in League CupFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Devils are strongly linked with a move for the Portuguese coach as they look to appoint a new manager after the departure of Erik ten Hag on Monday. Amorim, who joined Sporting CP in 2020, has a contract with the club until June 2026. Per , the Liga Portugal club are set to offer their manager a new deal that will have three clauses that could heavily boost United's pursuit.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The first variable in the new contract includes a €30 million (£24m) release clause which a Portuguese club will have to activate if they want to sign him, however, it could drop to €20m (£16m) if a foreign club shows interest in the manager. The second clause benefits the Red Devils as the figure further drops to €10m if one of the top clubs in Europe want to rope him in.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the past four years, the 39-year-old coach has achieved immense success with the Lions, having won two Primeira Liga titles, the Taca da Liga and the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?
Amid the search for a new head coach, the Manchester club will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on Leicester City in a Carabao Cup round of 16 clash under the tutelage of interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Southampton are planning to make a move for a "very important" Premier League player in the summer transfer window, viewing him as ideal for Russell Martin's style of play.
Southampton transfer news
Saints are edging closer towards their first game back in the top flight, with a trip to Newcastle United coming their way on August 17th. New signings are needed in order for Martin's side to avoid a quickfire return to the Championship, however, and plenty of reports suggest that fresh faces will come in.
Sao Paulo left-back Welington has been linked with a summer move to Southampton, as they look to pip Serie A side Torino to his signature in the process. The Italian outfit are already believed to have submitted a bid, though.
Welington for Sao Paulo.
Saints have also reportedly stepped up their interest in Manchester City striker Liam Delap, who scored eight goals in the Championship on loan at Hull City last season. The 21-year-old is unlikely to have a long-term future at the Etihad, given the amount of quality ahead of him in the pecking order, and a move to St Mary's could be ideal.
Bournemouth defender Max Aarons is also thought to be on Southampton's radar, with Martin seeing him as a potentially ideal replacement for Kyle Walker-Peters, should the star right-back move on to pastures new this summer. The 24-year-old was limited to only 13 starts in the Premier League in 2023/24, and could therefore like the idea of being a regular elsewhere.
Southampton want "very important" Premier League ace
According to a fresh claim from TEAMtalk, Southampton are planning a move for Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele, seeing him as an upgrade on current Saints stopper Alex McCarthy.
With Gavin Bazunu injured until 2025, a new stopper needs to come in, and the £20,000-a-week Seagulls ace is considered a great option who "perfectly fits the criteria for the type of keeper Martin is looking for", due to being "comfortable with the ball at his feet".
Steele looks like a brilliant target for Southampton this summer, with McCarthy arguably not at the level required to be relied on every week in the Premier League, despite some strong showings last season.
The 33-year-old Brighton man possesses so much experience at this stage in his career, with 33 appearances to his name in the top flight, 17 of which were starts at the Amex Stadium in 2023/24.
Former Seagulls manager Robert De Zerbi recognised the Englishman's importance to the cause last term, saying: "He’s very important on the pitch and off the pitch. I think he deserved a new contract because he’s playing very well. Last season [he] was one of the secrets to reach the target and this season he is playing very well."
Middlesbrough
142
193
33
Blackburn
120
150
28
Brighton
53
79
17
Sunderland
18
31
3
Northampton
13
10
4
The fact that Steele's ability to play out from the back appeals to Martin is vital, ensuring he has a 'keeper who is adept at suiting his style of football, and he could be a really astute signing. Being promised regular starts could sway his thinking, too, rather than batting with Bart Verbruggen for minutes at the Amex.
Mason Greenwood has reportedly been urged to consider suing Manchester United after Benjamin Mendy's win in a legal battle with Manchester City.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Greenwood could sue Man UtdPlayer's entourage believes they may have a caseMan Utd preparing legal defence as wellFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Mendy pursued an employment tribunal claim against City last year, alleging that he was owed over £11 million in unpaid wages. His claim resulted from a suspension without pay that commenced in September 2021 after he was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault. Upon his acquittal of all charges, the tribunal ruled in Mendy's favour directing City to pay a significant portion of his withheld wages.
AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
According to buoyed by Mendy's case verdict, Greenwood's team is examining whether Greenwood could sue Manchester United. After Greenwood was charged with rape and sexual assault, United suspended him and eventually decided to part ways with him, even after the charges were dropped.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
According to sources close to the situation, United are aware of the potential legal implications and are prepared to face a claim from Greenwood if he decides to pursue it. An insider revealed to "This is something that has been on the cards ever since criminal charges against Mason were dropped. The club has noted the Mendy case and the potential implications it has for them. But the two cases are fundamentally different. Mendy was suspended without pay by City, whilst Mason was suspended on full pay."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
DID YOU KNOW?
The 21-year-old had been one of Europe’s most promising young talents, but his arrest and the subsequent fallout had a devastating impact on his commercial value. Nike, Greenwood’s former sponsor, terminated its endorsement deal with him, and potential future sponsorships dwindled as well. Greenwood’s representatives are reportedly still unhappy with how United managed his situation and believe his earning potential has been permanently affected by the club’s stance. Hence, if Greenwood were to proceed with legal action, it would likely focus on loss of future earnings and endorsements rather than unpaid wages.
“If he were to launch legal action it would be for a loss of potential earnings," he said.
“He was one of the hottest prospects in Europe. His suspension destroyed it all in an instant. He could also claim for damage to his mental health. The Mendy case has emboldened those around Greenwood. They feel he was unfairly treated. But the club sought legal advice at every single stage and is prepared should he go through with it.”
Three T20Is and three ODIs between the two sides were originally scheduled for April
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2021Ireland men’s limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe, originally scheduled for April, has been postponed indefinitely after Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) advised Cricket Ireland against going ahead with the tour.The Irish squad was due to fly to Harare on March 28 and play three T20Is, followed by a three-match ODI series, in April. None of the postponed ODIs were part of the World Cup Super League (WCSL). Ireland are slated to host Zimbabwe for the WCSL fixtures this summer – dates for which haven’t been announced yet – to vie for 30 qualifying points in their bid to book an automatic spot for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.ZC clarified in a statement that the postponement had been due to a squeeze on the schedule, rather than due to any concerns around Covid-19.”Due to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic across the world – not in Zimbabwe in particular – ZC, like other boards elsewhere, has been forced to readjust its domestic and international cricket calendar,” the statement said.”With Zimbabwe scheduled to face Afghanistan men away and Pakistan men at home between March and April, accommodating the Ireland series in between the two aforementioned tours as had been proposed was unfortunately not going to be feasible. To confirm, the postponement of the proposed Ireland tour was due to scheduling challenges and had nothing to do with the ‘ongoing Covid-19 situation in the country.'”Richard Holdsworth, High Performance Director for Cricket Ireland, said the board would be aiming to draw up alternate fixtures to aid the national side’s preparations for the T20 World Cup in India in October-November.”We’re obviously disappointed, but to be honest, it is not an unexpected announcement from our Zimbabwean counterparts,” Holdsworth said. “We appreciate their efforts and willingness to try and make the tour possible, but in the end the health and safety of players and support staff must be of primary consideration.”We’ll now look at whether alternate fixtures can be arranged during that period, which is a crucial window in advance of a busy home season and in a T20 World Cup year.”Ireland recently toured the UAE, where they drew the ODI series against the hosts 1-1 before suffering a 3-0 whitewash in the format against Afghanistan. Aside from the home series against Zimbabwe, they are also due to host South Africa in the summer, in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. Ireland’s full summer schedule is set to be released in April.Holdsworth also said that the postponement of the home series against Zimbabwe makes the upcoming tour of Bangladesh by Ireland Wolves, the A team, all the more important.”This places even greater importance on the proposed Ireland Wolves tour in February/March given the need to provide many of our players the volume and quality of cricket we need to keep the momentum in player development we have been seeing over the last few years,” Holdsworth said. “We expect to be providing an update on the Wolves situation in coming days.”The Pakistan women’s team is currently touring Zimbabwe for three ODIs, to be played on February 11, 13, and 15, and two T20Is, on February 18 and 20 at the Harare Sports Club. The tour, as per a ZC release, is being conducted in a bio-secure bubble with no spectators allowed at the match venue.This story was updated to include details of ZC’s statement
West Ham United and technical director Tim Steidten are readying an opening offer for a former Tottenham forward.
West Ham targeting more attacking additions after Guilherme
The Irons have already brought in a new face in the final third this summer, with Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme the first to arrive from Palmeiras. A deal for the teenager reportedly cost more than £25m, with Steidten sharing his delight at being able to bring Guilherme to the London Stadium.
“We are really happy that Luis Guilherme is now a West Ham United player,” said Steidten. “He is a very exciting young talent who we have followed for some time, and once we became aware that he was available, Julen and I were determined to bring him to London.
Luis Guilherme
“Luis has enjoyed a fantastic start to his professional career with Palmeiras – naturally a wide player but with the flexibility to play across other attacking positions, which is an important and valuable factor in the modern game. He is technically very gifted, but also has very good physical qualities – great pace, strength and stamina, and these are traits that will help him to adapt to the demands of the Premier League and English football.”
Further forward additions are on the agenda ahead of Julen Lopetegui’s first season in charge. For example, an enquiry has been made for Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whereas Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi has also been offered to the Hammers.
Preliminary talks have also been opened for Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson, however, a former Spurs forward appears to be another player of interest to West Ham.
West Ham preparing Steven Bergwijn bid
According to Caught Offside, West Ham and Steidten are preparing to submit an opening €20m (£16.8m) offer to sign Ajax forward Steven Bergwijn this summer.
The Hammers’ interest is reportedly most advanced, with Crystal Palace and Marseille also keen on the Dutch forward, however, Ajax could hold out for up to €35m (£29.3m), meaning the Irons’ proposal could be swiftly turned down.
Steven Bergwijn for Ajax
The 26-year-old is under contract with Ajax until 2027 and is the current club captain of the Eredivisie giants. He enjoyed a positive individual 2023/24 campaign last time out, scoring 12 league goals in 24 appearances.
PSV
149
31
41
Tottenham
83
8
9
Ajax
76
29
11
Bergwijn also spent more than two years in London with Spurs, where he was praised by former Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, who called him a forward who can play anywhere across the front line in 2021.
“We are talking about a player with important qualities. It was a shame for me that he left during the international match, because I would have liked to have gotten to know him better during this break. It was of course not a shame for him, because he scored and qualified with the Dutch national team for the World Cup.
“Obviously he has a lot of quality. He’s good one-on-one, he’s quick and he can score goals. We are working with him and he understands what I want from him. For me, he is one of the forwards and someone who can play in the three positions up front. I’ll have to make an important evaluation, but Steven is in my squad and I’m counting on him.”
Sunderland have been warned that Jobe Bellingham “won’t resist” the chance to join Borussia Dortmund after seeing “how they guided” brother Jude.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Jude moved to Germany in 2020England international now at Real MadridTeenage brother treading similar pathFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Back in 2020, having made a senior breakthrough at Birmingham when just 16 years of age, Jude Bellingham made the brave call to leave his comfort zone in England and head for Germany. That decision has been thoroughly vindicated, with the England international now a Champions League winner at Real Madrid.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
It is being suggested that his younger brother Jobe could soon tread a similar path. Having also started out at St Andrew’s, the 19-year-old playmaker has spent the last 18 months catching the eye for Championship promotion hopefuls Sunderland.
WHAT PALMER SAID
Dortmund are reportedly eager to bring another Bellingham onto their books, with West Midlands native and ex-England international Carlton Palmer telling of why a deal may be done. He has said: “These are worrying times for Sunderland, who sit top of the table. You know when you're doing well, your players are going to be linked with bigger clubs and that is the case with Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham. I think it's crazy when you are at the top of the league to cash in on those players. They are only young and are going to go up in value, but obviously, that is the blueprint that Sunderland have.
“Reports are coming out that Sunderland will not stand in Jobe Bellingham's way and Borussia Dortmund are confident in signing him. I think it would be a good move for him. Dortmund have shown how they develop young players in the past, and he has obviously looked at how they have helped guide his brother.
“He is a very talented player, and he will get the game time that he needs to develop and hopefully kick on. I don't think he'll resist the chance to sign for Dortmund. For me, if they were mid-table and further down the league it would be a different scenario. But, with Sunderland going great guns, to let Chris Rigg or Jobe Bellingham go would be detrimental to their promotion hopes.”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
GettyWHAT NEXT?
Sunderland are in a position to demand the highest possible fee for Bellingham, as they have him tied to a contract through to 2028. It has been suggested that Dortmund would need to part with around £20 million ($25m) in order to present Jobe with the same career pathway that Jude once strode down with such distinction.