A potential move for Jobe Bellingham to join Manchester United is unlikely to materialise, according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness. The 20-year-old has been touted as a target for United after enduring a frustrating spell since his £27million switch to Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
Bellingham, who helped fire Sunderland to Premier League promotion last season, has started just four matches for Dortmund in 2025/26.He has accumulated a mere 413 minutes of action across all competitions. Speculation has mounted that United are keeping tabs on his situation and could throw him a lifeline should his playing opportunities fail to increase.
Bellingham was restricted to just five minutes as a late substitute against Koln on Saturday. Yet ex-Everton chief Wyness has insisted he cannot envisage Bellingham heading to United “going anywhere”.
Instead, he is “hearing” that a temporary return to Sunderland, who have enjoyed a superb start following their top-flight comeback this season, could be a realistic possibility in the near future. “I don’t see Bellingham to Man United going anywhere,” he told Football Insider.
“The only thing that I’m hearing that could possibly happen is a loan back to Sunderland. That might make the most sense of all.It’s where he’d feel comfortable and try and get things back on track.He’s not had the best start to the season, and I think that would make sense for him and for Sunderland.
“They’re an attractive team right now, and the manager is doing a great job; the owner is doing well. It’s an encouraging start for them.
“Bellingham might do well to come back to somewhere he’s well received and get the confidence of playing Premier League football in a decent set-up. That’s what I’m hearing is a potential loan move back to Sunderland rather than anything like Man United, where I don’t think he’s the right fit there at all.”
Bellingham – like his elder brother and Real Madrid midfielder Jude – began his career at Birmingham City before making a switch to Sunderland in 2023. He quickly became a mainstay in the Black Cats midfield from that point onwards, clocking up 90 appearances and netting 11 goals across his two seasons in a red and white shirt.
