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Borussia Dortmund have joined the race to sign midfielder Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland, talk SPORT understands. Bellingham has been recommended by Dortmund's UK scout Daniel Dodds, the brother of Wycombe Wanderers head coach Mike. Dodds coached him at Birmingham City and Sunderland, and has a good relationship with the family. Jobe could therefore follow in the footsteps of brother Jude, who shone at Dortmund before he signed for Real Madrid in 2023. Bellingham has also been scouted by Manchester United. United will be hoping history doesn't repeat itself after Jude snubbed a switch to Old Trafford in favour of Signal Iduna Park in 2020. The England star had visited United's Carrington training ground, while he also met Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson. Jude made 132 appearances in all competitions for Dortmund before his move to Madrid in a deal that could rise to £115million. This followed his progression through the academy at Birmingham, where brother Jobe also spent his youth career. Bellingham featured 26 times for the Blues ahead of his switch to Championship side Sunderland in June 2023. The 19-year-old has since featured 87 times for the Black Cats, with 11 goals scored and another four assisted. Bellingham is set to add to his 40 appearances for the current season when Sunderland enter the Championship play-offs. Regis Le Bris' side face Coventry City in the semi-finals, with the first leg away from home on Friday night and live on talk SPORT. Sunderland haven't won in their last six matches though, with defeat coming in the past five. Should they overcome Coventry after the second leg on Tuesday, they will meet either Bristol City or Sheffield United in the final. The Black Cats haven't played in the Premier League since they were relegated at the end of the 2016/17 season. They suffered back-to-back relegations in the following campaign and spent four seasons in League One before being promoted. Sunderland nearly completed a second consecutive promotion in 2023 but lost in the play-off semi-finals to Luton Town. © 2025 talk SPORT Limited
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