With the January transfer window just a fortnight away, speculation is growing around the futures of several Sunderland fringe players, as well as some key figures from last season’s promotion-winning campaign.
The Black Cats’ £155 million summer spend has significantly reshaped the squad, resulting in limited game time for several of last season’s heroes.
As a result, Sunderland could be set for a busy January at both ends of the market.
Here, Transfer News Blitz writer Ellie McDevitt assesses some of the potential departures from Wearside.
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Dan Neil
A boyhood Sunderland supporter, Dan Neil has endured a frustrating start to life in the Premier League following last season’s promotion.
The 24-year-old midfielder has lost the captain’s armband to Granit Xhaka and has played just two minutes of Premier League football this season – a stark contrast to last year, when he amassed 4,285 minutes across all competitions.
Neil has previously attracted interest from fellow Premier League sides Everton and West Ham, as well as Italian giants Roma. More recently, Frank Lampard’s Coventry City have emerged as serious admirers.
With the Championship leaders keen to bolster their midfield options and Neil’s contract set to expire in the summer, Sunderland may look to cash in during January.
Anthony Patterson
Anthony Patterson has found opportunities hard to come by this season, with his only appearance coming in the Carabao Cup defeat to League One Huddersfield.
The 25-year-old missed just four matches during Sunderland’s three-year stay in the Championship, but the arrival of Robin Roefs has left his future on Wearside looking uncertain.
Roefs has impressed, registering five clean sheets in 16 appearances and making 55 saves whilst also being lauded as a contender for signing of the season.
Patterson is attracting strong Championship interest, with Leicester City and Southampton both exploring loan moves last month.
Queens Park Rangers have also joined the list of potential suitors for the out-of-favour goalkeeper.
Dennis Cirkin
Dennis Cirkin was a pivotal figure in Sunderland’s promotion campaign, but injuries and an expiring contract have cast doubt over his long-term future at the club.
The 23-year-old left-back has recently returned to fitness, featuring for the Under-21s, and could be handed first-team opportunities in the coming weeks.
With both Reinildo and Arthur Masuaku set to depart for AFCON, a window may open for Cirkin to stake his claim.
Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth have been linked with the defender, while Brentford boss Thomas Frank has long been an admirer, having previously attempted to sign him in 2022.
With Cirkin’s contract running down and Reinildo firmly establishing himself as the first choice, Sunderland may opt to sell in January rather than risk losing him for free.
Chris Rigg
Despite signing a bumper new contract in the summer, Chris Rigg’s Premier League involvement has been limited.
The arrival of Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki and club-record signing Habib Diarra pushed the 18-year-old down the pecking order, with most of his early-season appearances coming from the bench.
An injury to Diarra in September handed Rigg his first start against Aston Villa, but his afternoon was cut short after just 37 minutes following Reinildo’s red card.
Rigg’s only other start came against bottom-of-the-table Wolves. He has not featured in the last seven matches and was omitted entirely from the squads for trips to Fulham and Liverpool.
However, with Sadiki, Diarra, Bertrand Traoré and Chemsdine Talbi all heading to AFCON, Rigg could yet be handed valuable minutes in the coming weeks.
Last chance saloon
With AFCON set to begin shortly, Dan Neil, Chris Rigg and Dennis Cirkin could all have opportunities to impress before the transfer window opens.
Whether those chances are enough to secure their futures on Wearside remains to be seen, but January looks set to be pivotal for Sunderland’s forgotten men.
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