Sunderland are being linked with an impressive League One player ahead of the summer.
Ahead of the summer transfer window, a lot of talk regarding Sunderland is about players potentially leaving.
And there’s a lot who could move on.
Jack Clarke feels like the main one and the most inevitable player to move on, following another standout season in the second tier.
Then there’s the likes of Dan Neil, Pierre Ekwah, and Dan Ballard who’ve all has Premier League suitors this season; most recently, Everton have been linked with Ballard.
Trai Hume is now wanted by Aston Villa and several other clubs, whilst goalkeeper Anthony Patterson has his share of suitors.
Liverpool linked with Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson
Earlier in the season, it was claimed that Liverpool were interested in Sunderland goalkeeper Patterson.
The 23-year-old academy graduate already has 117 total appearances for the Black Cats, having played in every minute of the 2023/24 Championship season so far with 10 clean sheets to his name.
More recently, transfer expert Graeme Bailey exclusively revealed to Sunderland AFC News that ‘a lot of clubs’ are keeping tabs on Patterson ahead of the summer transfer window.
Sunderland eyeing Anthony Patterson replacement
And amid interest in Patterson, Sunderland have now been linked with Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
Alan Nixon says that the Black Cats are currently ‘checking on’ the England U21 man who’s played 40 times in League One for Wigan this season, keeping 13 clean sheets.
Nixon also adds that Sunderland want ‘around’ £20million for Patterson, but that Wigan will want ‘a decent sum themselves’.
Who is Sam Tickle
Tickle, 22, has risen through the youth ranks at Wigan Athletic, making his league debut last season.
But this season has been his breakthrough campaign with Tickle emerging as one of the top goalkeepers in League One; he has the seventh-most clean sheets in League One this season and averages 2.9 saves per game (Sofascore), compared to Patterson’s 2.8.
Latics boss Shaun Maloney has described Tickle as an ‘incredible’ player.
Big summer ahead for Kristjaan Speakman and Sunderland
There’s certainly a lot of work to do at the Stadium of Light this summer.
Not only do Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman have a new manager to appoint, but there’s also plenty of gaps in the squad to fill.
Experience is needed and strikers too.
And with certainly players looking likely to move on, there’ll be more and more gaps opening up; but with Patterson and Clarke potentially going for big fees, there could be a bit of money available for the club to spend.
Tickle could be one of the players heading to Wearside this summer.
He’s certainly catching the eye in League One and with the Young Lions and his stats are impressive, especially given Wigan Athletic’s mixed season in League One.
Tickle is a good shot-stopper and he’s in the age demographic of Sunderland’s transfer philosophy, though whether he could make the step up to the Championship after just one season in League One remains to be seen.
It could be a gamble from Sunderland and indeed for Tickle, who could quickly find himself playing no.2 if he doesn’t impress.
But it seems like Speakman and co are getting their summer transfer plans in place.