Sunderland AFC: Jobe Bellingham price tag emerges in Borussia Dortmund transfer blow | OneFootball

The Black Cats' valuation of Bellingham has emerged, with Dortmund taking a more serious interest in the youngster now.

Sunderland value key midfielder Jobe Bellingham at €20m, as Borussia Dortmund seriously look at the possibility of making a move for him.

This is according to BILD, with this valuation being reported amid major interest in the 19-year-old, who has continued to shine at the Stadium of Light.

He may not have enjoyed the best time in front of goal during the 2024/25 campaign thus far, but he has still been able to make an impact for Regis Le Bris' side and has played a part in their rise to the top of the Championship table.

Bellingham is just one of a number of Black Cats players who are currently attracting interest, with Chris Rigg unsurprisingly the subject of interest from elsewhere too, following his strong start to the season.

The Wearside outfit are in a fairly strong negotiating position for both though, and not just because of their age.

The pair are also tied down to long-term deals, with Rigg's contract not expiring until 2027 and Bellingham not seeing his deal expire until the summer of 2028.

The latter was initially set to stay until 2027, but he put pen to paper on a new contract in the summer back in August and this has helped to strengthen the Black Cats' negotiating position.

He has justified this new deal by scoring important goals against the likes of Derby County and Oxford United, with these contributions setting the foundation for Le Bris' men to go on and win both of those games.

Bellingham has also endured some low moments, being sent off against Queens Park Rangers earlier this month, but he can be fairly pleased with the season he has endured so far, even if his goal contributions record hasn't been as good as he would have wanted it to be.

Borussia Dortmund interest ramps up as Sunderland set Jobe Bellingham price tag

According to BILD (via Sport Witness), Dortmund's scouts have been keeping an eye on his performances and are now "getting serious" in their quest to recruit him, with the Bundesliga side believing he could have a similar impact to his older brother Jude.

However, it looks as though they will need to wait until next summer to get a deal over the line for the 19-year-old, when their interest could "become really hot".

This is according to the same report from BILD, which states that the Black Cats are keen to secure €20m for the teenager's signature.

At this stage, Dortmund don't have sufficient funds to secure a January deal, so an agreement between them and the Wearside club doesn't look set to happen in the short term.

The 19-year-old is a very talented player who will only get better.

With this in mind and the fact his contract doesn't expire until 2028, the Black Cats have the right to demand a considerable amount for him.

It could even be argued that they should demand much more than €20m for him, considering his potential and the fact he already has a decent amount of first-team experience under his belt.

If they don't charge as much though, a sizeable sell-on clause percentage could be included in the deal.