Former Sunderland manager Gus Poyet believes the club must keep key players Jack Clarke, Jobe Bellingham and Anthony Patterson if the Black Cats want to compete in the Championship next season.
The trio have been central to Sunderland’s setup this season, despite the club slipping into a mid-table position. Clarke has shown his attacking qualities throughout the campaign and the 23-year-old is Sunderland’s leading scorer with 15 Championship goals.
Bellingham has also impressed with eight league goal contributions in 42 appearances. Patterson has been ever present in goal and is the only player alongside Trai Hume to play every minute of the Black Cats’ Championship campaign.
The players’ consistencies have inevitably generated interest from other English and European clubs. However, each player has a long-term deal with Sunderland, as Clarke and Patterson are contracted until 2026 and 2028 respectively, according to Transfermarkt, while Sunderland confirmed in 2023 that Bellingham agreed to a “long-term contract”.
Despite potential interest, Poyet, who managed the Black Cats between 2013 and 2015 in the Premier League, feels the club are well-placed to keep their best players. In an interview with Football League World, the Urayguayan said that holding onto talent is vital for progression in the 2024/25 season.
“It’s so important to keep your best players. Sunderland have a great crop of young players and keeping them can help push up the table next season.
“The vision must be to develop young talent and give them game time, so they can perform like they did last year. The fans will get behind the players and The Stadium of Light can see Premier League football again.
“All three players have impressed and until an offer comes in that the Club can’t turn down then they will stay and play week in week out.”
Writer’s View
Sunderland’s turbulent season may hinder the club’s chances of retaining their best talents this summer. The lack of managerial consistency, emphasised by the dismissals of Tony Mowbray and Michael Beale, may deter the likes of Clarke, Bellingham and Patterson from sticking with the club.
Ultimately, the club’s next appointment could be crucial in convincing the trio to remain at the Stadium of Light. A fresh appointment with a clear philosophy and a track record of developing players could help Sunderland kick on and mount a play-off challenge next season.
