Real Madrid are showing interest in signing Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham, brother of Los Blancos star Jude, according to a report from Spain.
Jobe, 19, has been in hugely impressive form with Sunderland this term and has helped the Black Cats secure their place in the Championship play-offs. Such have been the level of his performances, the starlet was recently named the division's Young Player of the Season - five years after Jude achieved the same feat.
The teenager, who first broke through at Birmingham City like his brother, has scored four and assisted three in the Championship this term and could help Sunderland earn a long-awaited return to the Premier League next season.
Jobe's rise has naturally attracted attention from bigger clubs - Crystal Palace have been most regularly linked - and Marca report that even record Champions League winners Madrid are keeping tabs on the midfielder.
The report reveals little of Madrid's intentions regarding Jobe but it appears extremely unlikely that the wonderkid will join his brother in the Spanish capital imminently. Despite his talent and potential, he remains some way off representing a club the size of Los Blancos.
The versatile engine room operator will have to find a stepping stone club this summer should he want to represent Madrid one day, much like Jude did when joining Borussia Dortmund. Of course, Sunderland's potential promotion will impact his future.
Madrid are not the only titan to have been impressed by Jobe, with Arsenal having also been touted as potential suitors.
The 19-year-old's first priority, however, will be his side's upcoming Championship play-offs. Sunderland are guaranteed to face the side which finishes fifth in England's second tier across a two-legged semi-final, although their exact opponents will not be decided until the final round of fixtures this weekend. "I'm sure everyone at the club realises what kind of opportunity we've got; they don't come around very often, and so we have to make the most of it," Bellingham beamed.
"We're going to need everyone, as the gaffer has said. The supporters will do their bit, I'm sure, travelling so far as they always do to support this team. Us players, it's up to us to understand what it means to the supporters and the staff who work tirelessly from top to bottom. We've got to do it for everyone."
READ THE LATEST REAL MADRID NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
feed
