BEST SIGNING EVER; Tottenham Hotspur has finally signed their dream player

Jobe Bellingham has repeatedly been linked with an exit from Sunderland in recent times.

Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace are both “in the running” to sign Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland this summer, according to their former chief scout.

The Black Cats midfielder has found himself at the centre of widespread transfer speculation in recent months after a series of performances that have established him as a vital presence in Regis Le Bris’ starting XI. Still only 19, Bellingham has already been linked with a host of high profile suitors, including Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as continental heavyweights Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. He has also been touted for a potential senior England call-up under new manager Thomas Tuchel.

But according to Mick Brown, who also worked as a chief scout for Man United and Blackburn Rovers, both Spurs and Palace have been keeping close tabs on the player this season, and could look to test Sunderland’s resolve at the end of the campaign.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “I think Sunderland would let him go if they got a good price for him. Especially if they don’t get promoted this season, they’re going to listen to offers. It feels to me like they’re short of a couple of real top-class players. You’ve got the goalkeeper who’s not bad, he’s promising, then you get Rigg who’s the same.

“Then you’ve got Bellingham, and there have been questions about whether he’s good enough to make that step up at this point. Crystal Palace and Tottenham have had scouts watching him this season so they’ll be two of the teams in the running if he is going to leave.

“So it’ll be up to them to assess whether he’s ready to make that jump.