Birmingham City will be keeping a keen eye on developments from afar as speculation begins to intensify this month as to what the future holds for Sunderland forward Jobe Bellingham. The teenager is of interest at home and abroad to a number of clubs, with Borussia Dortmund - who signed brother Jude in 2020 - a supposed admirer alongside Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Brentford.

Now, Palace have been tipped to make a move for Bellingham this month after another impressive stretch of form produced in the first half of this season for the Mackems, who are looking to keep pace with Sheffield United, Leeds United and Burnley at the top of the Championship table. However things pan out, Blues are expected to pay attention.

Reports emerged last year that Blues inserted a sell-on clause into the deal when they allowed Jobe to leave St Andrew's for then Championship rivals Sunderland back in the summer of 2023. On Wearside he reunited with former Blues academy director Kristjaan Speakman and former academy boss Mike Dodds.

READ MORE: Birmingham City planning transfer raid as fresh link emerges

READ MORE: Aston Villa transfer news latest as Unai Emery considers former Barcelona defender

Jobe, now 19, made 26 appearances for Blues having been handed his debut by Lee Bowyer, and then playing a little more regularly under John Eustace, but he moved to the Stadium of Light last year for around £1.5m and he has since played regularly in the Championship, scoring 11 goals in 68 league appearances to date and representing England under 21s.

The Daily Mail claimed last spring that, as a part of the deal which took Bellingham from Blues to Sunderland, Blues would receive up to 15% of any future fee in the event the Black Cats sold Jobe on. With speculation increasing that Bellingham could be targeted in January, it could have a knock-on effect for Blues, who are likely to be active in the winter window themselves, in the event he was sold, although it's likely to take a substantial offer to tempt Sunderland.

Chris Davies has lost winger Emil Hansson and Keshi Anderson to injuries recently, as well as left-back Lee Buchanan who had only just made a long-awaited return before suffering yet another unfortunate and significant setback. Blues are back at the top of the League One table after beating Wigan on Saturday, having played half of their games.