Bellingham scored seven goals in 45 Championship games for the Black Cats during his stellar first season at the Stadium of Light. A number of elite teams, notably Palace, Tottenham, and Brentford, had expressed interest in the player due to his outstanding year.Nevertheless, the brother of England star Jude has declined the chance to go to the Premier League and has chosen to stay on Wearside for the time being.Romeo said that Bellingham has opted to trust Sunderland’s ambitious initiative and keep growing in the northeast, despite Palace’s alleged intense pursuit of the player’s services in recent weeks.
The teenager is content at the Championship club
While many would have jumped at the chance to sign with a Premier League team, Bellingham has obviously been told to keep working on his game at a lower level and hold off on joining the best team in English football until he’s ready. According to reports, the 18-year-old’s group has urged him to stay with Sunderland for at least another year in order to expand his resume.
The teenager, who only made 26 appearances for boyhood club Birmingham before moving north for £3 million last summer, has only played in one full season. Bellingham has turned down every approach from elite teams in order to dedicate himself to Sunderland’s audacious plan of returning the Black Cats to the Premier League.
Bellingham would have given Palace’s midfield more firepower, especially with Michael Olise moving Bayern Munich and Edgar Eze being linked to a transfer away. In the heart of the park, Oliver Glasner envisioned the England under-20 international complementing players like Adam Wharton and Cheick Doucoure.
Links will probably resurface if Bellingham builds on his strong first season and has a better campaign the next year, and Sunderland may be able to secure a cost higher than the £20 million they were allegedly requesting this summer.
| Statistical Comparison 2023/24 (League Only) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat | Bellingham | Eze |
| Appearances | 45 | 27 |
| Goals | 7 | 11 |
| Assists | 1 | 4 |
| Key Passes Per 90 | 0.94 | 2.37 |
| Shots Per 90 | 1.39 | 3.59 |
| Successful Take-Ons Per 90 | 0.62 | 3.03 |
Palace Chasing Another Midfielder
The South Londoners are interested in Smith Rowe
Now that the Bellingham deal has been withdrawn, Palace might focus on Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe.With the attacking midfielder potentially available this summer for a reduced fee, the south London club is ‘certainly interested’ in him.
After just three Premier League starts in the last two seasons, the Hale End alum is no longer considered necessary at the Emirates. Smith Rowe is seen by Palace as the perfect replacement for Eze, who may decide to go back to Arsenal. The Palace hierarchy is allegedly “anxious” about the England star’s future due to his connections to the Gunners.
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