Sunderland AFC: New club chasing Champions League football enters Jobe Bellingham transfer race | OneFootball

The German media are reporting that Eintracht Frankfurt have joined the chase to sign Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland.

The race to sign Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland is hotting up, with reports that Eintracht Frankfurt are set to join the chase for his signature.

Sunderland midfielder Bellingham has been on the radar of clubs in both England and Germany for some time, following an impressive season for the Black Cats in the Championship which saw the team finish in fourth place in the table.

Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig's interest in the player was well-known, but now reports in the German media have suggested that a third club has expressed an interest in signing him.

Eintracht Frankfurt joining the chase for Bellingham's signature

Sky Germany have reported that Eintracht Frankfurt are also now interested in signing Bellingham: "Borussia Dortmund are still desperate for Jobe Bellingham, but they are not alone in their interest. As Sky has learned, Eintracht Frankfurt are now also interested. RB Leipzig are also showing interest. Bellingham is under contract with Sunderland until 2028."

Further reporting in the German newspaper Bild claims that Bellingham fits the profile of a player that Frankfurt need this summer: "Frankfurt expect the Swede Hugo Larsson (20) to leave for England or Spain for around €50 million this summer. Furthermore, Frankfurt's second starting midfielder, Ellyes Skhiri (30), has fluctuated too frequently in form."

They also claim that, "the younger Bellingham doesn't want to be compared to his older brother Jude in Dortmund, as the latter had a very successful time at BVB from 2020 to 2023". It's already known that this is the reason he prefers his first name on the back of his shirt to his surname.

Champions League qualification could hold the key to Bellingham's future

But the extent to which Eintracht Frankfurt might decide to pursue Bellingham - or are able to persuade him to join them - may come down to a very important fixture to be played in Germany this weekend.

Frankfurt are third in the Bundesliga going into their final round of fixtures, and they're away to fourth-placed Freiburg. The top four qualify for next season's Champions League, but if Frankfurt lose this match they could be overtaken by both their opponents and Borussia Dortmund, dropping to fifth and putting them into next season's Europa League instead of Europe's premier club competition.

Dortmund are at home to the already-relegated Holstein Kiel. They're three goals worse off than Frankfurt in terms of goal difference, so a two-goal win in their match would be enough for them to snatch fourth place were Frankfurt to lose by one.

Figures from BBC

The prospect of Champions League football next season wouldn't only boost Frankfurt's chances of securing Bellingham's services for next season. It would also boost their finances to be able to make such a move in the first place.

Bellingham is unlikely to make a final decision over his future until after Sunderland's Championship play-off final against Sheffield United, and it's still possible that there could be interest in him from Premier League clubs.

But the fact that there are three such big German clubs as Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt interested in him is proof in itself of the high esteem in which he's held. The biggest beneficiaries of this chase might even be Sunderland themselves, should the three become involved in a bidding war for his services and increase the final selling price above the £25 million that has been widely quoted as their asking price for him.