Sunderland may need to find a replacement for one of their key players in the summer.
Ahead of the summer transfer window, Sunderland have been tipped to lose a handful of key players, with Jack Clarke the obvious name.
The 23-year-old looks set to pocket Sunderland a sizeable transfer fee with the likes of West Ham and Crystal Palace interested.
And there’s other names who have Premier League interest, with one being Anthony Patterson.
Last week, transfer expect Graeme Bailey exclusively told Sunderland AFC News:
“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.”
With that in mind, here are three Patterson replacements Sunderland could sign in the summer, who won’t break the bank.
Lukas Jensen
Lincoln City signed Danish shot-stopper Lukas Jensen from Burnley last summer.
Since, the 25-year-old has established himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in League One, keeping 17 clean sheets in 39 league appearances so far this season (2nd highest in League One).
Jensen is very much like Patterson; he’s a tall figure standing at 6ft 6ins, making him very commanding and dominant inside the penalty box.
Former Lincoln City boss Mark Kennedy best described Jensen’s attributes upon signing the Dane last summer, saying:
“He has the attributes that we look for in this position; he commands his penalty box, he’s an excellent shot stopper, is aerially dominant and will be a presence in our goal.”
James Beadle
The Brighton & Hove Albion gem has enjoyed a breakout season, spending the first half with Oxford United and then joining Sheffield Wednesday in January.
With the Owls, 19-year-old Beadle has kept an impressive five clean sheets in 11 Championship outings, conceding 17 with six of those coming in an anomalous 6-0 defeat at Ipswich Town earlier in the month.
And Sunderland could have a potential in where Beadle is concerned; Sunderland are now keen on Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl.
Rohl has gotten the best out of Beadle in the second half of this season and Brighton have been tipped to send Beadle out on loan again next season, possibly to a top-end Championship club.
Karl Hein
The Arsenal youngster looks set to leave this summer and become a free agent, after failing to make his breakthrough with the Gunners.
Hein though has a lot of experience on the international stage with Estonia with 29 caps to his name at the age of just 21.
He spent time out on loan with Reading during the 2021/22 season but saw his time there cut short due to injury.
A quick glance at some of his previous highlights show that he’s a very good shot-stopper at close range and in one-on-one scenarios, which could make him ideal in the fast-paced Championship.