BBC pundit and former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett has urged the club to cash in on one player, if a £12million offer is made.
Sunderland enter a crucial summer transfer window with several players like to fetch transfer interest, potentially with some big fees too.
The likes of Jack Clarke and Anthony Patterson are in transfer headlines right now with both players wanted by other clubs.
Clarke could go on to net the Black Cats upwards of £20million following his standout 2023/24 season. Patterson meanwhile is being linked with an £8million move to Sheffield United.
Other names may well come into the conversation for a summer move but Marco Gabbiadini has urged Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus to limit player sales to just two; the two who’d fetch the highest amount of money.
Another name in transfer headlines of late is Jobe Bellingham who’s a reported target for Borussia Dortmund ahead of the summer.
Gary Bennett verdict on Jobe Bellingham transfer interest at Sunderland
Speaking on Total Sport, Bennett has given his verdict on Bellingham and reported interest from Borussia Dortmund.
It’s also been claimed that Sunderland would command a fee of £12million for Bellingham this summer, after paying £3million to buy him from Birmingham City last summer.
Bennett believes £12million would be a good fee for the 18-year-old, saying: “If they’re offering something in the region of £12million, I think that’s a good fee for him.”
Bennett then uses the example of Adam Wharton; the 20-year-old midfielder was signed by Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers in an £18million deal earlier this year.
Wharton has since gone on to earn high praise, with Bayern Munich reportedly eyeing up a £60million summer move for the Englishman.
Bennett added: “Look at the lad who’s gone to Palace, Wharton, he went for £18million. He’s a good player for £18million.
“You’ve just got to look at the two players and think, 18, 12, I think it would be good business.”
The fee that Sunderland should charge for Jobe Bellingham
Bellingham’s maiden season at Sunderland, on the whole, has been a positive one, with seven goals in 45 Championship outings.
So much first-team exposure will surely set him up to be more prolific and important next season, and by the end of which, he could be a £20milion player.
We saw the same with Clarke who was linked with a £10million move to Burnley last summer, but could now join a top European team for £20million this summer.
So for Sunderland, keeping Bellingham for another season may be their best bet. But at the same time, £12million may be hard to turn down, especially for a player they only paid £3million for last summer.
Expect Sunderland to cash in on one or two this summer, but who they cash in on remains to be seen.
There’s growing speculation on social media that Clarke could be one who stays and if that’s the case then Bellingham may be the one who’s sold.
If Dortmund or any other team come in with a £12milion offer, it’ll certainly give Sunderland, Kristjaan Speakman and Louis-Dreyfus something to think about.