Sunderland looks set to lose a promising young talent to Premier League side Arsenal, as reported by the Sunderland News.
Sunderland’s record of producing young players is very good, but a couple of seasons ago, they had an issue with talents leaving the club. Josh Maja and Joel Asoro both came through the academy, only to jump ship and whilst that pattern has been stopped in recent seasons, it seems they may be about to suffer another loss.
17-year-old Mason Cotcher has been impressing at the Academy of Light. He had 10 goal involvements in just 19 U18 Premier League games for Sunderland as they pushed Man City for the U18 title. That form saw him called up to England’s U17 side and even feature on the bench for the first team in the FA Cup against Shrewsbury.
However, the promising young striker has not featured for Sunderland at any level this season, and it’s reported that the club could not agree professional terms with him once he turned 17. The Black Cats hadn’t given up on retaining his services, but it seems that may now be unlikely. He was recently named in the Arsenal U17 side that travelled to play Middlesbrough, prompting rumours he had left Sunderland for good.
Whilst it seems he is only on trial, it does point to a disappointing move from a Sunderland perspective. However, they have retained the services of two of the other stars of their U17 side, Tom Watson penning a pro deal and keeper Matty Young committing to do the same when he turns 17.
Writer’s View
You win some, you lose some. Academy football can be unpredictable, and that isn’t just in managing talented youngsters into the pro game. Sometimes, bigger clubs come knocking, which can turn a player’s head, or they feel their future is best served elsewhere.
Gone are the days when a talented 17-year-old’s only hope of making it was by bursting onto the scene at his club. Players can now make as many moves between the ages of 12 and 17 as they do in their pro career. It is disappointing to see Cotcher turning out for Arsenal, at least from a Sunderland perspective, but it is sadly a by-product of the system.
Unlike Asoro and Maja, who had first-team experience, the impact of this won’t be felt by the Sunderland first team.
