Report: Newcastle and Sunderland are now battling to sign the same player from the Championship

By Lee Clarke

Newcastle and Sunderland are both battling to sign Birmingham City wonderkid Jobe Bellingham, according to TEAMtalk. There are other clubs in the mix too, with Rangers, Bayer Leverkusen and Nice are also monitoring the situation.

Bellingham has stepped up to senior football during 2022/23. He’s got 15 appearances to his name for the Blues, with 11 of those coming during the current campaign in the Birmingham midfield.

The brother of Jude Bellingham could be on the move before him. Birmingham are yet to secure a takeover of the club and that could force them into selling a player who is tipped for a bright future.

The younger of two Bellingham brothers is under contract until 2024. Birmingham will be hoping that they can quickly get taken over and then put plans in place to ensure he sticks around in the Midlands.

Right now, a move to the North East looks on the cards. It’s claimed in the latest report that both Newcastle and Sunderland are keen to sign the attack-minded midfielder in the future.

It’s an uncertain time for Birmingham. Not only is the club struggling to find new ownership but the caveat is that some of their top talents could be forced into departures in the near future.

Newcastle and Sunderland battling for Bellingham

The Magpies have lofty ambitions these days. As a result, this perhaps isn’t the Bellingham that they hoped would be signed by the Saudi consortium currently pulling the strings behind the scenes at the club.

Newcastle have to be reasonable though. Until they secure European football, attracting the world’s top players won’t be queuing up to check in at St James’ Park.

Bellingham would be a very good signing though. He has a ridiculously high ceiling and he’s a player that could be capable of playing in the Premier League in the near future.

Sunderland would perhaps be attractive to the player too. If he headed to the Stadium of Light, first-team football would be more forthcoming and that could aid his development better.

Newcastle will naturally hold the aces, however. Signing for the mega-rich Magpies will surely entice any young Championship starlet and Bellingham is no exception.