‘Bellingham agrees Sunderland exit despite split at Dortmund, Kovac not sold’
Jobe Bellingham’s move to Borussia Dortmund from Sunderland is proving to be a divisive one as manager Niko Kovac had his eyes on another target.
It was only a matter of time before the younger of the two Bellingham brothers started to make a name for himself.
After joining the Black Cats last season the 19-year-old played 45 times, helping them secure their status as a Championship club.
And having made the playoff final, Bellingham stole the show for Sunderland as Regis Le Bris’ side came from a goal down to win 2-1.
The win restored the Black Cats to the Premier League after an eight-year absence and seemed to put the North Eastern side in a strong position to keep their young star.
But as revealed exclusively by Football Insider on 28 May, Bellingham has verbally agreed to join Dortmund.
However, despite following in his brother’s footsteps and the German club beating out Bundesliga rivals, the transfer appears to be a divisive one.
Jobe Bellingham not Niko Kovac’s priority signing at Borussia Dortmund
Just days after winning promotion to the Premier League with Sunderland, Bellingham jetted off to Germany to have talks with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Despite the interest from the Europa League quarter-finalists, the 19-year-old will instead join Dortmund just as brother Jude did.
However, as reported by Sky Sports Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri on X, the move to sign the Englishman has created division within the German clubs’ ranks.
The club’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl wanted Bellingham and looks to have triumphed behind the scenes, but manager Kovac’s “priority” was Ardon Jashari.
The Swiss midfielder has been impressing in Belgium with Club Brugge, and according to Florian Plettenberg, is on Man City‘s shortlist this summer.
But Kehl has “won his battle inside Borussia Dortmund” and Bellingham will now complete his move to the Westfalenstadion on a “long-term contract with terms already agreed”.
Sunderland now relying on Enzo Le Fee to become midfield general
Football Insider Verdict
Sunderland confirmed the permanent signing of Enzo Le Fee on Tuesday (3 June), with the Frenchman joining from Roma after half a season on loan.
The Frenchman was good, if unremarkable for his new side in the Championship, but the pressure is now on for the 25-year-old.
Le Fee will likely be the man to fill the void left by Bellingham when he departs for Dortmund, and he must rise to the occasion if Sunderland are to have any chance of Premier League survival.
The Black Cats will likely look to add a player with experience playing in England’s top-flight to pair with the Frenchman.
Sunderland have been linked with a move for Jordan Henderson, and with the World Cup on the horizon, the former Liverpool man will likely be tempted to re-join his old side to give himself the best chance of playing at the tournament in North America.