Borussia Dortmund want to sign Jobe Bellingham and have made the Sunderland midfielder a top transfer target for this summer.
The club hope he will follow in the footsteps of his brother Jude with a move to the Bundesliga.
Jude excelled after joining Dortmund from Birmingham in a £25million deal in 2020 aged just 17.
The England midfielder won the DFB-Pokal and starred during his three-year stint in Germany before a £115m switch to Real Madrid two years ago.
Dortmund maintain a strong relationship with the Bellingham family and believe they can secure Jobe, 19, for £25m.
Bosses from the German club, including head coach Niko Kovac and managing director Lars Ricken, took part in negotiations in England on Wednesday, according to Sky Sports.
Dortmund have made Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham a top summer transfer target
Jude Bellingham enjoyed a succesful three year stay with the club before moving to Madrid
Dortmund have a good relationship with the Bellingham family and hope to sign Jobe for £25m
The 19-year-old, who moved to the Stadium of Light in 2023, has three years left on his contract and started Sunderland’s play-off semi-final win over Coventry on Friday.
He has featured heavily for Regis Le Bris’s side this season, making 40 league appearances, scoring four goals and providing three assists.
Although Jobe doesn’t seek to encourage comparisons with his brother, Dortmund have an impressive record of nurturing young talent.
Young English stars Jadon Sancho and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens have thrived at the club in recent seasons, while Chelsea’s Carney Chukwuemeka joined on loan in January.
Jobe has represented England U21s and has already made over 100 appearances for Sunderland and Birmingham.
In March it was reported that Chelsea were among a trio of European heavyweights who were eyeing a move for the youngster.
He has scored four goals and provided three assists in 40 games for Sunderland this season
Meanwhile, Dortmund travel to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
Last season’s Champions League finalists currently sit in fifth, and look set to miss out on qualification for next season’s competition.
They are four points behind Freiburg, who occupy the final qualification spot, with just two Bundesliga fixtures remaining.
Bayern Munich wrapped up the league title last week, giving Harry Kane his first ever piece of silverware.
