As Sunderland prepare for life back in the Premier League, they have suffered a blow this week with news emerging of Jobe Bellingham’s pending exit, but the Black Cats are acting quickly and have already found a Premier League talent to replace him, according to a recent report.
Bellingham set for Borussia Dortmund move
Since arriving at the Stadium of Light in July 2023, Bellingham has been a breath of fresh air for the Black Cats. While the midfielder didn’t manage to score as many goals in the 2024/25 campaign as he did in the 2023/24 season, his overall performances were very consistent and helped Sunderland seal a return to football’s biggest league.
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Sunderland now set to sell “excellent” 19 y/o for £9m less than they wanted
He is now reportedly in advanced talks over a move away.
Despite that accomplishment, Bellingham has been weighing up his future in the last couple of weeks. The 19-year-old is under contract until 2028, but there has been significant interest in a possible transfer this summer, particularly from Germany.
Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig were two teams who made a move to sign Bellingham, but the young Englishman has decided to follow in the footsteps of his brother and make a move to Borussia Dortmund. Bellingham wants to join Dortmund, and now, according to Keith Downie, Sunderland are in advanced negotiations and are set to sell the midfielder for £25 million.
Sunderland want to sign £3m Wolves ace as Bellingham replacement
So as the Black Cats work on selling Bellingham to Dortmund, the club’s hierarchy already have a player in mind when it comes to replacing him. According to TEAMtalk, Sunderland are interested in signing Tommy Doyle from Wolves this summer.
The report states that the Black Cats want to strengthen the spine of their team as they prepare for life back in the top flight, and Doyle has been earmarked as a potential arrival. Sunderland tried to sign the 23-year-old on loan back in the January transfer window, but ultimately failed.
Now they want to try again, but this time on a permanent basis, as Doyle has been told by Wolves that he is free to leave the club. The midfielder has fallen out of favour under Vitor Pereira, failing to make five of the last nine Premier League matchday squads.
Wolves have put a £3 million price tag on Doyle’s head, but the Black Cats are not the only team chasing the former Man City man, as Sheffield United, whom Sunderland beat in the play-off final, are also interested in a deal, as well as Wrexham, who are playing in the second tier next season.
But Sunderland may hold an advantage – Doyle has the same agent as current Sunderland defender Luke O’Nien, who has been key for the club for a number of seasons now, perhaps smoothing negotiations along.
Indeed, it is claimed that Sunderland are in the box seat to sign Doyle, who was dubbed “unbelievable” by former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil. He’s played over 50 games in the Premier League, so his mixture of top flight experience and youthful exuberance could go a long way to replacing a departing superstar.
