Sunderland talking 'every day' about £40m transfer amid West Ham and Crystal Palace links

Sunderland are talking 'every day' about the future of star midfielder Jobe Bellingham amid transfer links with Premier League sides West Ham and Crystal Palace.

The two London outfits were named as frontrunners to sign the 19-year-old in a fresh report from TBR Football. The Hammers and the Eagles will face competition from Europe with Marseille and RB Leipzig also included in the report as Bellingham continues to impress in the North East.

The younger brother of England international and Real Madrid superstar Jude, Bellingham enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for the Black Cats last term and has continued to play a key part under Regis Le Bris this term.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano had claimed that Crystal Palace had been looking at a move for Bellingham in the summer window having enjoyed recent success in helping Championship stars make the step up to the top flight with a £40 million price tag touted - Eberechi Eze came from QPR and, more recently, Adam Wharton from Blackburn Rovers.

It appears that Julen Lopetegui is a fan of the player too with his West Ham side lacking bite in midfield. Summer signings Carlos Soler and Guido Rodriguez haven't impressed while Edson Alvarez has picked up two infuriating red cards this season.

Regis Le Bris confronts Jobe Bellingham transfer talk

Le Bris has this week responded to the latest flurry of transfer interest and admitted that it is something Sunderland are aware of ahead of the January window. He said: “We are talking together every day, and with the owner as well, with Kyril.

“The question is not solved because we do not know what might happen in the future. It is not a subject that is on the table [currently] because that is not the reality of the situation. But I think with these players [Chris Rigg, as well as Bellingham], they are involved in the project, and they know that they can improve in this team. So, from a personal perspective, it is good for them, and also to be part of this journey as well. It is rare to have this.

"Sometimes, you can go a whole career without having these elements – where you are in a club, you like that club, you are improving and you believe in a very interesting journey. I am confident for the future.

“I know the journey the players are on, but the environment is still complex. From a rational perspective, it is very clear, but sometimes you do not know what else is going on in the environment that a player is in. Sometimes, that can make them make another decision. I am sure other clubs are noticing the players we have, but it is better that way. It means you are doing well.

“I think it is important for them to be here until the challenge is not high enough for them. Probably, when they feel that they need something more to develop, that should be the right moment to leave. But at the minute, for both players, I think they are still in the right zone for their career development. They need to play, and they need to learn. They need to learn about playing in a collective style, so for them, I think the culture we have here is still working for them. I think the graph of their learning is still going up at a good level.”