Why Brian Brobbey is starting to show his best form for Sunderland
Sunderland could be set to bid farewell to a number of players during the January transfer window...
With the January transfer window just around the corner, all eyes will be on Sunderland to see how they go about their recruitment business following a stellar start to the new season.
But while much of the focus will be on potential incomings, there are also a whole host of names who could be destined for an exit in the coming weeks too.
With that in mind, here are the 14 first team talents who could be on their way out of the Stadium of Light in the new year, as things stand...
Anthony Patterson
Usurped as Sunderland’s number one by Robin Roefs at the start of the season, for how much longer will Patterson be satisfied to play second fiddle to the Dutchman? Far less certain to depart than others on this list - and if he were to go the Black Cats would need an immediate replacement - but his future looks far less secure than it did a few short months ago.
Blondy Nna Noukeu
Like Patterson, a goalkeeper who is getting no game time, the 24-year-old must surely be reaching a point in his career where he would like to go out and play regularly, rather than lingering in the background.
Dennis Cirkin
Working his way back from injury, Cirkin is still yet to put pen to paper on a fresh contract extension, and until he does, there are going to be unavoidable questions over his future on Wearside.
Leo Hjelde
Another who has been injured over the course of the first part of the season, but now he is back in training, it is not hard to imagine Hjelde being shipped out on loan given both his need for minutes and Sunderland’s strength in depth at the back.
Aji Alese
Again, everything we said about Hjelde also applies to Alese. Injuries have been cruel, and he is evidently a huge talent when fit, but how often will he play when Regis Le Bris has everyone available to him? A loan could beckon.
Timothee Pembele
The full-back was fully expected to leave during the summer window, and nothing about his situation has changed in the period since. It would appear that Pembele has no real future on Wearside, and if that is the case, then an exit would presumably be mutually beneficial to both him and Sunderland.
Zak Johnson
A promising young talent who always looks as if he has outgrown the U21s game whenever he features. Find him a good lower league loan, and watch him flourish.
Joe Anderson
Very much a forgotten man, Anderson must be weighing up his options heading into January. He’ll be 25 in February and his contract expires at the end of the season - all signs point to an exit that some would argue is quite overdue.
Dan Neil
Like Cirkin, everything hinges on that prospective contract renewal. Sign it, and all of the speculation goes away. Until then, however, questions will persist - even if Le Bris has reasserted his belief that Neil has a role to play for his side this season.
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Abdoullah Ba
Another talent for whom opportunities have dwindled significantly since Le Bris’ arrival at the Stadium of Light. The attacker isn’t a bad player by any means, and is still young enough to kickstart his career elsewhere, but barring a minor miracle, his days with Sunderland look numbered.
Jay Matete
Matete would be a really decent addition to any number of EFL squads, and you would have to imagine that, after a series of similar loan deals in recent seasons, he will be seeking another such exit in the new year.
Harrison Jones
Having made the step up to the first team squad last season, Jones is one of several players whose personal prospects have probably been hampered a little by promotion to the Premier League. A really decent talent, and the right loan move in January could be the making of him.
Ian Poveda
Having tumbled into obscurity on Wearside, Poveda is in desperate need of a move to revive his ailing career. The question is, who will take a gamble on him?
Ahmed Abdullahi
And finally, Abdullahi is still yet to make his senior bow for Sunderland, but continues to impress when he turns out for the U21s. Will the Black Cats send him out for a temporary stint elsewhere, or will they continue to monitor his rehabilitation in the North East?
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