BBC pundit and former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini has revealed his thoughts on Jobe Bellingham following his first season on Wearside.
Jobe Bellingham, 18, was the subject of quite widespread transfer speculation last summer, when Sunderland eventually poached him from Birmingham City.
The Black Cats paid a reported fee of £3million for the 18-year-old who played in 45 out of 46 Championship games in the 2023/24 season, scoring seven goals and assisting one.
At times though, Bellingham received mixed reviews. There was a long period in the season where Bellingham was clearly in need of rest, but a lack of squad balance meant that Bellingham was needed week in, week out.
He played in numerous positions across the season including central midfield, in the no.10 role, and even up front where he looked sharp on occasion.
Since the end of the campaign, Football Insider have claimed that Bellingham is wanted by Borussia Dortmund ahead of the summer transfer window.
Marco Gabbiadini gives verdict on Jobe Bellingham at Sunderland
Speaking on Total Sport amid Dortmund links to Bellingham, Gabbiadini gave his verdict on the teenager following his first season at the Stadium of Light.
Gabbiadini said: “I think the lad’s done well. You can see that there’s something there. I think he’s had a difficult season because we weren’t a great side.
“We chopped and changed with him a bit. He played a lot of football… For him, it was a season that was a means to an end; the end might be that he leaves.
“People have seen that he’s a powerful player, knows where the goals is. He needs a little bit of refinement, but I’ll be looking forward to seeing him again next season.”
Gabbiadini added: “I’d be a little bit sad to lose him, actually. It’s been a shame this season that he hasn’t had a striker to play off… and I think you’ve got to remember how young he is.”
The stance Sunderland should take on Jobe Bellingham
Whether emerging Dortmund interest in Bellingham is true remains to be seen. Though if it is then it’s a credit to him and how he’s performed in his first season at Sunderland.
Like Gabbiadini says, it was certainly difficult at times given the lack of a striker; having a prolific no.9 might well have brought more out of Bellingham.
But the fact that his best position remains to be seen might be a nice problem for Sunderland and their next manager, who might be able to mould the player to his liking.
The club definitely needs to bolster the areas in which Bellingham operates in order to give him slightly more resting time next season, so that he can operate at full speed more often.
He showed a lot of quality and versatility, though maybe criticism at times was just; arguably, though, that was through no fault of his own, but because he was forced to play so much football.
And if transfer interest arrives this summer and it meets Sunderland’s valuation, whatever that might be, they could listen.
But Gabbiadini has also said recently that Sunderland should look to sell only a couple of players this summer; the ones who bring in the most money.
That may well be Jack Clarke and one other, likely Anthony Patterson or maybe Bellingham, but if Clarke goes then Bellingham surely stays.
Bellingham is under contract until 2027. A full season in the Championship will have done him a world of good at 18 years old, and like Gabbiadini says, he’s still very young and has a lot of potential to fulfil.
Sunderland should keep Bellingham for at least one more season and watch his value sky rocket, as they have done with Clarke, and then reassess next summer.