Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly preparing to concede defeat in their efforts to sign Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham, who is planning to stay put in January.
The 19-year-old has not quite hit the same heights that brother Jude Bellingham did at his age, but he is making quite the impression in the Championship under Regis Le Bris.
Jobe Bellingham has contributed four goals and three assists from 23 second-tier games in the current campaign, playing a key role in the Black Cats' fourth-placed ranking in the Championship table.
Sunderland are just three points adrift of leaders Leeds United and two worse off than Burnley in second place, meaning that the younger Bellingham brother could very well be plying his trade in the Premier League in 2025-26.
According to The Sun, though, both Arsenal and Man United possess an interest in bringing him to the top flight this month, but both English titans are set to be left disappointed.
Sunderland 'determined' to resist Jobe Bellingham interest
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The report claims that Jobe Bellingham is expected to stay put in the Championship for the rest of the season, also rejecting interest from fellow suitors Borussia Dortmund and Crystal Palace.
The Black Cats are in a strong negotiating position when it comes to the 19-year-old, who penned a long-term extension last year and is under contract at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2028.
Le Bris's side could supposedly garner a fee of around £20m through a January sale, a significant profit on the £1.5m they paid to sign him from Birmingham City in 2023, but they are 'determined' to rebuff offers while they focus on their promotion scrap.
The England Under-21 international boasts a total of 11 goals and four assists in 70 appearances for Sunderland, who would make their second-most expensive sale of all time if they were to successfully demand a £20m fee for Jobe Bellingham.
Jordan Pickford's £24m switch to Everton in 2017 remains the Black Cats' biggest departure, with Darren Bent's £18.1m move to Aston Villa in 2011 second on the list.
What other midfield targets could Arsenal, Man United pursue?
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Sunderland have every right to be optimistic of keeping Jobe Bellingham on the books if their promotion efforts are successful, but they may find it difficult to resist a £20m package in the summer if they fail to make it out of the second tier.
Arsenal and Man United will not be putting all their eggs in the Bellingham basket, though, and it has been claimed that the Gunners are also fighting for the services of Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Larsson.
However, the Swede would be a far more expensive acquisition at £70m, and the Gunners are reportedly fearful that they could be beaten to his signature by a fellow Big Six club during the summer.
Both Arsenal and Man United are said to be pursuing Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes, and the Red Devils also supposedly have their eye on Atalanta BC lynchpin Ederson.
A handful of veterans could leave the Emirates and Old Trafford this summer, as Jorginho and Thomas Partey are in the last six months of their deals, while offers will be entertained for Red Devils pair Casemiro and Christian Eriksen this month.
Ben Knapton
