Chelsea are reportedly ready to join the race to sign Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham during the summer transfer window.
At a time when brother Jude Bellingham is continuing to star for Real Madrid, his younger sibling has been enhancing his reputation in the Championship.
The 19-year-old has contributed four goals and three assists from his 32 starts in this season's second tier, helping the Black Cats stay relevant in the promotion race.
However, now in his third campaign at the Stadium of Light and having only developed on an upward trajectory, interest is only growing in the Englishman.
According to The Sun, Chelsea have emerged as a potential destination for the England Under-21 international during the off-season.
© Imago
Blues ready to target Bellingham?
The report alleges that Chelsea's hierarchy are prepared to outbid any of the player's other suitors in a bid to win the race for his signature.
Chelsea are reportedly keen to ensure that they retain a strong English core and signing the England Under-21 international would help them achieve that.
While the likes of Reece James, Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer are viewed as long-term members of this Chelsea squad, there are question marks over the other English talent at Stamford Bridge.
Unless James features in the engine room, Chelsea could have four foreign players - Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Andrey Santos - as their primary options in the engine room next season.
That is something that may play into Bellingham's thinking when contemplating his next move, there still being over three years remaining on his contract.
© Imago
What other teams are tracking Bellingham?
Manchester United have recently been credited with an interest in Bellingham, the Red Devils seemingly joining Chelsea in viewing Bellingham as a long-term option.
Brother Jude's former club Borussia Dortmund have also been monitoring his development in the long term and have the advantage of having progressed his elder sibling's career.
A wide array of lower-end Premier League teams have also been linked in the past, it unclear whether Bellingham would want to take that step when high-profile teams are on his radar.
Darren Plant
