Last season, Jobe Bellingham starred for Sunderland and was key part of their squad that secured promotion to the top fight. He mainly operated in the middle and as a defensive midfielder, managing five goals and four assists from 47 games for the Black Cats.
His form for Sunderland helped him attract interest from a few clubs this summer and Borussia Dortmund were able to secure his services for €30m.
The 19-year-old hasn’t been able to replicate his Sunderland form for the German club so far and last week, Dietmar Hamann suggested BVB overpaid for him.
Bild now report the Bundesliga club expected the midfielder to be a ‘difference-maker’ but that hasn’t happened yet, and there are multiple reasons for that.
Bellingham has played eight games [including Club World Cup] for Borussia Dortmund of which 186 minutes are from five games this season.
The signing from Sunderland hasn’t settled in as he ‘seemed like an outsider’ in matches and is becoming a ‘big €30m problem’ for Borussia Dortmund.
Niko Kovač used him as a defensive midfielder, middle of the pitch and as an attacking midfielder, and his performances haven’t been convincing enough for him to cement a place in the starting lineup.
According to Bild, he could be well suited as a No.6 for BVB even though Bellingham can operate across multiple positions. Marcel Sabitzer has already cemented his place, and the former Sunderland star has to fight Felix Nmecha and Pascal Groß for a place in midfield.
Kovač replaced Bellingham in his side’s 3-3 draw against St. Pauli after the break and the latter’s family, including his father Mark, weren’t pleased. Mark criticised the club and sporting director Sebastian Kehl before settling the matter with an apology.
Borussia Dortmund are concerned Bellingham’s family could become ‘increasingly restless’ if Kovač were to leave him on the bench regularly.
To sum it up, Bellingham’s decision to leave Sunderland for Borussia Dortmund hasn’t worked out well so far.
