Arsenal, Man Utd and Crystal Palace £25m Championship target set for huge England call-up

Arsenal and Manchester United transfer target Jobe Bellingham could be set for a call-up to the England squad by new Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel, in what would be a head-turning move by the former Chelsea boss.

Bellingham, who is the younger brother of England and Real Madrid star Jude, is currently playing his football in the Championship with Sunderland. The midfielder is enjoying a head-turning season and that hasn't gone unnoticed by Tuchel.

According to a report from Alan Nixon, Tuchel sent assistant Anthony Barry to Turf Moor on Friday night to watch the second tier clash between Burnley and Sunderland with Bellingham and James Trafford in his thinking for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers at the end of March.

Arsenal target set for England call-up

Should Bellingham be handed a place in the national side, he would be the first Championship player to represent England in a competitive fixture since David Nugent in 2007. That would no doubt increase the £25 million asking price Sunderland are said to have slapped on the 19-year-old.

The Mirror had named the Gunners and the Red Devils are two suitors for Bellingham, with Premier League rivals Crystal Palace also linked given their penchant for helping EFL stars make the step up to the top flight. The Sun this week claimed that the player could also be involved in a German transfer race between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund.

Scouts from both of those Bundesliga clubs were present at Pride Park last week to watch Bellingham in action, with Dortmund having played a big part in the development of older brother Jude in recent years.

Sunderland manager on Jobe Bellingham transfer rumours

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has spoken out about his desire to hold onto the player with the Black Cats chasing promotion back to the Premier League. The North East club sit fourth in the Championship table, three points off the automatic promotion places and 11 points clear of fifth-placed West Brom.

The Sunderland manager said: “We have good players, and because we have good players, we can have a lot of interest about them. The long-term is one timeline, but when it comes to the short-term, the most important thing is the connection to the team.

“I think these players, in their mind right now, have the story that we are living. They are so connected that, for me, they want to stay here. Now, on the opposite side, they have to find a solution about their contracts and their futures, that is normal. But, for me, to story we are living now is the best element for the next few weeks and also after the transfer window.

“If you look at the owner, the sporting director and the recruitment structure, then I think we are really connected about the opportunity we have this season. We all know the opportunity is there, and we want to do everything we can to try to make it happen.

“Then, on the other side, even if a massive offer was to arrive, the player has to sign and say, ‘Yes, I want to leave’. Hopefully, all of those things will mean that the decision in the end is really clear.”