While Bellingham and his father Mark, who is also a FIFA-affiliated agent, have met representatives from Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig in the last few days, they have indicated a desire to join Borussia Dortmund this summer.
Jobe will be following in the footsteps of his brother, Jude, if he moves to Signal Iduna Park, with Dortmund keen to push through a deal during the first summer transfer window that is due to close on June 10.
Ideally, the Bundesliga club want to complete a transfer in time to include Bellingham in their squad for the forthcoming Club World Cup in the United States.
Sunderland’s owner, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, and sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman, are understood to be resigned to the loss of Bellingham this summer.
However, with the 19-year-old contracted to the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2028, they are in a strong negotiating position and are adamant Bellingham will only be leaving on their terms.
Reports in Germany have suggested Bellingham’s contract contains a €40m release clause (around £35m), but have claimed Dortmund are hoping to complete a deal for a lower initial fee.
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The Sunderland hierarchy are likely to be willing to discuss a range of compromise options, but will insist the final overall package for the deal is worth at least £35m. There have been suggestions that Dortmund could be willing to pay an up-front sum of around £25m, with the rest of fee made up of future add-ons.
With Birmingham City due a sell-on fee reported to be 15 per cent of any profits as part of the deal that took Bellingham to the Stadium of Light for around £3m two summers ago, Black Cats chiefs will be mindful of the need to strike the best possible deal.
Appearance incentives are likely to be included in the deal, as well as future bonuses based around international appearances or successes in the Bundesliga or Champions League, and Sunderland are also expected to insist on a hefty sell-on clause that will kick in if Bellingham leaves Dortmund for a profit in the future.
Talks are expected to take place in the next few days, with Bellingham having spent most of the last week on holiday in Ibiza along with his brother, Jude.
As well as potentially representing Borussia Dortmund at the Club World Cup, Jobe will also spend part of the summer playing for England at the European Under-21 Championships.
