Transfer news: Sunderland ‘closing in’ on £1.5m deal and ‘five-year contract’ as transfer window opens
Sunderland is “closing in” on £ 1.5 million deal for Birmingham City starlet Jobe Bellingham, according to the Daily Mail.
Their reports add that Birmingham City sacrificed their £ 2.5 million up front asking price for add-ons and a sell-on percentage in the deal for the 17-year-old midfielder after the Black Cats were told to up their offer of an initial £ 1 million fee.
Bellingham, younger brother of Borussia Dortmund and England star Jude, was in attendance for the first leg of Sunderland’s play-off semi-final against Luton Town at the Stadium of Light earlier this month.
The Bellingham family has close links with the Black Cats hierarchy, with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, first-team coach Mike Dodds and head of coaching Stuart English all playing a part in the development of both brothers.
Bellingham made his full debut for Birmingham City against Sunderland at St Andrew’s earlier this season in a game the Black Cats eventually won 2-1.
The Mail also states that Sunderland is also closing on the signing of 19-year-old striker Luis Semedo from Benfica.
Portuguese football outlet Maisfutebol recently claimed that the young striker has agreed on a deal with Sunderland and will “sign a five-year contract in the next few days.”
The 19-year-old made 23 appearances for Benfica B during the 2022-23 season, scoring eight goals, after coming through the club’s academy. Semedo has played for Portugal’s under-20s side but hasn’t featured for Benfica’s first team.
Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion was linked with Semedo last month with the transfer window in England now open.
