Man United are being heavily linked with highly-rated Sunderland and England youth star Jobe Bellingham ahead of this summer's transfer window.
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Jobe Bellingham celebrates after scoring for Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Jobe Bellingham is being heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.(Image: Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images.)
Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham has already revealed he is at his best when operating as a box-to-box midfielder amid ongoing speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United.
The England Under-21 international has been closely linked with a move to Old Trafford over the past week or so, likewise a flurry of other big-name clubs, both domestically and abroad.
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The 19-year-old, the younger brother of Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham, has excelled for Sunderland this season, playing a key role in helping them mount an unexpected push for the Premier League. They are currently fourth in the Championship table with eight games to go.
Bellingham joined the Black Cats from Birmingham City in June 2023 for a fee reportedly in the region of £3million. After spending much of his first season at the Stadium of Light operating as an attacking-midfielder, he has operated much deeper this campaign, playing as a free-roaming No.8, and his performances have been much-improved.
United are set to be on the lookout for a box-to-box midfielder this summer amid Christian Eriksen's expected departure at the end of his contract and Bellingham has reportedly been identified as a potential target amid Ineos' interest in signing young players with high ceilings.
"I know playing box-to-box is what I enjoy the most, because you can get stuck in and drive forward," Bellingham told Sky Sports in December 2023.
"I can show more of what I'm capable of in that position, but I do think I have a good skillset as a striker or a No.10. I have an internal desire to score goals, because it's something I want to do. But it has never come from anywhere else. It is a healthy pressure. A motivation."
The youngster, who is a very mobile and athletic operator in the centre of midfield, has racked up 81 appearances for Sunderland since joining the club almost two years ago, scoring 11 goals. Four of those 11 goals have been plundered in the Championship this season.
He has four caps for England at Under-21 level and he claimed an assist in Monday night's 4-2 win over Portugal at The Hawthorns.
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