Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham is being pursued by many Premier League clubs. Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham is drawing interest from Premier League clubs, but what are the odds of a top-flight club signing him this summer? Crystal Palace and Brentford are reportedly interested in the 18-year-old, who started 43 Championship games and scored seven goals in 2023/24. The length of Bellingham’s Sunderland contract was never revealed after he moved to Wearside last summer and was announced to have signed a ‘long-term’ deal.
To learn more, we spoke with Dom Smith from the Evening Standard about Palace’s interest. Which positions are Palace looking to bolster this summer? DS: “Palace’s priority positions are mostly determined by which players leave, given the club’s persistent interest in Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Marc Guehi. Oliver Glasner’s penchant for a back three means that centre-back is a top concern. So is attacking midfield, which explains the desire to get Daichi Kamada from Lazio and the interest in Bellingham.”
Is Bellingham one of their main targets, and how real is their interest? DS: “Their interest is genuine and long-standing, but it is not like as advanced as the current moves for Barcelona defenders Chadi Riad and Kamada, which are serious and might happen soon. For the time being, Bellingham is only on a transfer shortlist. How frequently do you believe he would play in the Premier League if he signed to Palace?
DS: “Palace’s priority positions are mostly determined by which players leave, given the club’s persistent interest in Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Marc Guehi. Oliver Glasner’s penchant for a back three means that centre-back is a top concern. So is attacking midfield, which explains the desire to get Daichi Kamada from Lazio and the interest in Bellingham.” Is Bellingham one of their main targets, and how real is their interest? DS: “Their interest is genuine and long-standing, but it is not like as advanced as the current moves for Barcelona defenders Chadi Riad and Kamada, which are serious and might happen soon. For the time being, Bellingham is only on a transfer shortlist.
How frequently do you believe he would play in the Premier League if he signed to Palace? DS: “Fairly often, but Palace already has a number of starting midfielders (Adam Wharton, Cheick Doucoure, and Jefferson Lerma) and attacking players (Eze and Olise). “Game time would most likely begin from the bench.”
Would Palace be willing to pay a large transfer price for Bellingham this summer? DS: “They could afford to pay reasonably well for the player, but in an era of PSR (profit and sustainability standards) and heightened football finance control, no club—especially one as savvy as Palace—would splurge on a player. They could afford Bellingham, but they’d need to know he’s the right fit.”
