Sunderland look set to lose one or two key players in the summer.
As it stands, it looks like Sunderland will lose at least one of their young stars; Jack Clarke.
The former Leeds United and Spurs man has enjoyed a real career rejuvenation at the Stadium of Light with 15 goals and four assists in the Championship this season.
Sunderland batted off transfer interest from the likes of Burnley last summer and Lazio in January, though ahead of the summer, it now looks inevitable that Clarke will be sold for big money.
But there’s others attracting a lot of interest too; Dan Neil has been linked with Liverpool whilst Pierre Ekwah has garnered interest, along with Dan Ballard as well.
Another name in Premier League headlines, and also linked with Liverpool, is goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.
Anthony Patterson Sunderland career so far
Patterson, 23, came through the Sunderland academy to become the club’s no.1 goalkeeper.
He got his chance in the second half of the 2021/22 League One promotion season when he was recalled form his loan spell with Notts County.
He was given his chance in the first-team and has barely missed a game since, showing his qualities as a shot-stopper and a leader on the pitch too; Patterson already has 116 total appearances for Sunderland with 33 clean sheets.
Liverpool were credited with an interest in Patterson earlier this year.
Graeme Bailey says Anthony Patterson is one to watch this summer
Clarke’s exit seems inevitable this summer. But who else might join him out the Sunderland exit door remains to be seen.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman might be reluctant to offload all of their star players in the summer, but if the price is right then it’ll prove hard to turn down.
Giving his verdict on the summer ahead, transfer expect Graeme Bailey said Patterson is the other one to keep an eye out for in the summer, along with Clarke.
Speaking exclusively to Sunderland AFC News, Bailey said:
“Jack Clarke’s obviously going to go, I think the other one we need to keep an eye on is Anthony Patterson. A lot of clubs like him, and obviously being home grown, he could be a no.2 with a view to being no.1. So I think Patterson is one where the interest is going to increase as we head to the summer. They’ll be doing well to keep him.”
Sunderland should jump at eight-figures for Anthony Patterson
Patterson is one of the first names on the team sheets, if not the first.
He’s earned praise since making his breakthrough and he earned praise following the last outing vs QPR in which Patterson made an ‘unbelievable’ save late on to keep the scores level.
But he’s been on stranger to criticism this season.
Whilst he’s made no immediate blunders, he doesn’t always fill the fan with confidence or blow them away.
And during what feels like a golden era for goalkeepers in England, taking £10million or more for Patterson could be a very good deal for Sunderland.
A £10million fee for the academy man would represent a huge profit on the player and then Sunderland could go out and spend £1million or £2million on a goalkeeper who is just as good, if not better, and have plenty of money to spare.
Bailey’s comments suggest that Patterson could well be on the move this summer and with plenty of teams interested, an auction could well commence, which would be great news for the Black Cats.