Chelsea plotting summer move for £40m-rated Championship star wanted by Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen | OneFootball

Chelsea are reportedly preparing a summer move for Championship star Jobe Bellingham.

The Blues made an impressive start to the 2024-25 season under manager Enzo Maresca. However, their levels have massively dropped in the last few months as they have slipped down to fifth in the Premier League standings.

Chelsea were not very active in the winter transfer window, but they are preparing to be very busy in the summer.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Maresca’s side are eyeing a summer swoop for Sunderland’s attacking midfielder Jobe Bellingham.

However, they face competition from top Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen who are also keen on the player. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace have also been linked with an interest in the past.

Sunderland are hopeful of sealing Premier League promotion and keeping the 19-year-old at the Stadium of Light. But if they fail to go up, a transfer is likely to happen.

With Jobe’s contract not expiring until 2028, the Black Cats are in a strong position to command a large fee for him. It is said a move for the midfielder could cost Chelsea a fee in the region of £40 million.

His brother Jude Bellingham headed to Dortmund and that proved to be a very successful move for him. But it is suggested Jobe might prefer to stay in the Premier League for his development.

The England Under-21 international has been earning rave reviews with his performances in the Championship this campaign. Performing a variety of midfield roles, he has started 32 times in the second-tier, scoring four goals and creating three assists in the process.

Stats from Transfermarkt