Sunderland‘s Eliezer Mayenda is likely to leave the Premier League side in the summer.
The striker arrived at the Stadium of Light from FC Sochaux in July 2023, when the Black Cats were in the Championship.
Last season, he impressed for Sunderland, managing 10 goals and five assists from 41 matches.
This includes a winner in the Championship playoff final against Sheffield United, which helped his side secure promotion.
Since Sunderland’s return to the Premier League, the 21-year-old hasn’t enjoyed a good run. To put it in context, he managed two goals and one assist from 943 minutes from 23 matches this season.
Régis Le Bris handed him 70 minutes from four league matches since the end of February.
Future away from Sunderland
Foot Mercato have a report on Eliezer Mayenda and their title state he is ‘ready to take the next step’.
Within the report, they say he is ‘expected to leave’ Sunderland in the upcoming window.
The outlet says the Spain U21 international has ‘delivered impressive performances’ in the last two seasons. This has caught the attention of ‘several ambitious European clubs’, who have positioned themselves to secure his services.
There’s no mention of the details of these European clubs, but the report insists Mayenda is one of the most sought-after players in the market.
It’s worth noting the player didn’t deliver consistently for Sunderland this season, but that didn’t stop the outlet from hyping him up. It feels like the attacker wants to leave and Foot Mercato are trying to create a hype.
Black Cats could open exit door
Sunderland reportedly paid €1m to buy him from FC Sochaux and can make profit from his sale in the summer.
In the winter market, Régis Le Bris’ side offered Eliezer Mayenda on loan as part of the deal for CA Osasuna’s Víctor Muñoz. However, the Spanish club turned down their bid as referred to the latter’s €40m release clause.
The Black Cats were open to parting ways with him in January and are unlikely to oppose his exit in the upcoming window.
Mayenda’s contract runs down in 2030 and his value, as per Transfermarkt, is €18m.