Sunderland Face Challenge To Keep £8.5 Million-Rated Star Amid PL Interest

Sunderland have endured quite a timid campaign this time around but now face the very real prospect of being picked apart by bigger fish ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Black Cats have suffered a hangover from last season’s impressive play-off finish and now sit closer to the relegation zone heading into the final five games of the campaign than the top six, with fixtures against Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion on the horizon.

Sunderland Handed Boost In Pursuit Of Manager With 42.5% Win Rate

One of the turning points of the season for Sunderland was the hierarchy’s decision not to sign a new centre-forward in the summer or during the winter transfer window. Former manager Tony Mowbray publicly stated that it was unlikely that the board would spend money on a striker, despite being linked to Kieffer Moore and Ali Al-Hamadi — both now at Ipswich Town — and was sacked just a few hours after his comments.

There are some incredibly talented players in the first-team squad, such as Jobe Bellingham and Jack Clarke, but this quality isn’t dispersed enough throughout the team which has meant that the club will spend another season in the Championship despite having had hopes of a return to the Premier League in 2024/25.

The biggest problem facing Sunderland ahead of the summer market is whether they can hold onto some of their key players which could prove pivotal for any promotion chances next season. One man linked with a move away from the Stadium of Light is goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

According to a report from TeamTalk, Liverpool could be willing to allow Caoimhin Kelleher to leave Anfield this summer as Premier League clubs weigh up moves for the Republic of Ireland international, with the Reds slapping a £20 million price tag on the shot-stopper.

As a result, the outlet are also claiming that the six-time European champions will look to sign Patterson as Kelleher’s replacement to become their second-choice goalkeeper behind Brazil international Alisson.

Writer’s View

Patterson is one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship at the moment and the 23-year-old certainly has a bright future ahead. However, with the Englishman still having four years remaining on his current deal, Sunderland can hold out for a hefty transfer price.

The Wearside outfit should be in no rush to sell the keeper as they hold all the cards. Patterson boasts a market value of £8.5 million, as per Transfermarkt, but Sunderland could arguably get a much higher fee than that, a sum worth at least eight figures.

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