Sunderland can replace Bellingham with academy "diamond" who's like Watson
da betcris： Regis Le Bris has now joined an exclusive club when it comes to Sunderland managers who have triumphantly secured Premier League football for the Black Cats.
da mrbet： The last successful boss to guide the Wearside outfit up to the big time was Roy Keane all the way back in 2007, with Sunderland managing to consolidate themselves as a top-flight worthy club from that point onwards until their demise ten years later.
The former Lorient head coach will be desperate to return the Black Cats to their former glories as a Premier League staple, therefore, but he will have to likely stomach Jobe Bellingham’s departure if he is to excel in the elite division.
The latest on Bellingham's future at Sunderland
Breaking down at the close of the dramatic playoff final, Bellingham must have realised that this unbelievable day out at Wembley could be the final ever time he dons Sunderland colours.
The teenage sensation could well be foolish not to move on whilst he’s a hot commodity, seen in new reports that he is in Germany for talks with Bundesliga titans Eintracht Frankfurt over a potential summer switch.
Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also keen on the Sunderland starlet, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, with his promising return of four goals and three assists this season clearly catching many an eye.
This isn’t the only crushing development with Tommy Watson – who scored the crucial winner at Wembley to down Sheffield United – also leaving the Stadium of Light behind soon to join Brighton and Hove Albion for £10m.
Yet, all this bad news coming through doesn’t have to completely demoralise the newly promoted team, considering the Black Cats have an impressive reputation for homegrown youngsters coming good.
This could be the case once more when potentially bumping up a promising 20-year-old prodigy who might well be a savvy Bellingham replacement if all goes to plan.
The Sunderland "diamond" who could replace Jobe
Of course, nobody will be expecting a youngster coming into a harsh Premier League environment to be an instant, rip-roaring success.
But, much like the patience that was exercised with Bellingham when he first broke through, the same should be applied to young midfielder Harrison Jones if he’s deemed worthy now of being handed over the baton by the Frankfurt-linked star.
After all, Jones has already been launched into the senior side six times during his fledgling career to date, with his gleaming numbers for both the U18s and U21s showing off his keen eye for a goal and assist much like Bellingham.
In the Premier League 2 alone this campaign, the Sunderland-born star has picked up five assists and three strikes, with his ability to shine both as a central option or down the wings making him very comparable to the soon-to-be departing Watson, away from any lofty comparisons to the in-demand number seven.
Watson’s overall numbers for Sunderland
Age bracket
Games
Goals scored
Assists
U18s
15
1
5
U21s
40
11
7
First team
6
0
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Of course, Bellingham can also slot into the side down the flanks if needed, with a real hope in the air on Wearside that the homegrown “diamond” – as he has been lauded previously by youth coach John Hewitson – can have a formative season to come to try dress up the wounds of any major exits.
There will have to be a sense of realism over Jones hitting the ground running, though, as the Premier League is a testing beast, but if he can show glimpses of quality and learn off the likes of Enzo Le Fee, he could have a very bright future at his hometown club.
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