GOOD NEWS: Kyril Dreyfus already mapping OUT remarkable January transfer trademark options by including series of names to Stadium of Light wishlist as EPL promotion and title winning remains high.
**Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund. Chris Rigg to Manchester United. Dennis Cirkin to Leeds United.**
The rumors are piling up.
Just as the festive season seems to arrive earlier each year, so does the transfer speculation leading up to January. Sunderland’s ability to hold on to their key players will be crucial for their promotion campaign, and the club’s leadership is undoubtedly aware of this. With promotion in their sights, any whispers of losing top talent early next year will certainly frustrate fans.
Having carefully built a squad capable of leading the Championship, it’s unlikely that owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman will approve departures unless absolutely necessary. Naturally, a team excelling at this level will have players who attract interest from elsewhere.
Jobe Bellingham is a unique case, largely because of his famous last name. His connection to his brother Jude, one of the world’s top talents, ensures he will catch the attention of clubs globally. Even if Jobe achieves only a fraction of his brother’s success, he’s destined for a remarkable career.
Unfortunately, Jobe’s recent absence has highlighted his importance to Sunderland. Missing the last two games, both of which ended in draws, underscores how pivotal he is to the team. His bad luck with timing didn’t help either. A three-match absence, common in the Championship’s packed schedule, was extended by the international break.
This means he won’t return until Sunderland’s clash with West Brom on Tuesday, November 26. By then, nearly a month will have passed since his last appearance. When he’s back, it will be interesting to see if Sunderland have managed to retain their spot at the top of the table through this challenging period.