Football's off-season is often a boring time for supporters but events off the pitch have been unfolding over the weekend: A new transfer rumour, a young academy player on the move, another on his way to the England u18s, an offer for a previously linked transfer target of ours made by a fellow Championship club being made and one of the players linked with a move away from Wearside apparently now happy to remain here. Our old friends Charlton Athletic have also had some movement in the ownership area…
HAYE ON HIS WAY?
Sunderland have been linked with 28 year old Dutch defensive midfielder Thom Haye of Heerenveen (he can also play as a central and attacking midfielder). Standing at 6 '1, he made 35 appearances for Eredivisie side Heerenveen (you might remember them from the friendly they played at the Stadium of Light in 2019) scoring three and assisting three within that last season. Reportedly having a playing style to Corry Evans, he has the added advantages of being younger and with a better goal scoring ability than Evans.
Haye would most likely be brought in as a long term replacement for the Northern Irishman and to provide cover, with our club captain getting older and currently recovering from injury. Toulouse and Besiktas are our rivals to complete a deal for him and the player himself has stated that he ‘knows there is interest’ in him. Couple this with the fact that Heerenveen are bringing in a young midfielder on loan from Chelsea, it makes a move away from the Netherlands highly likely for Thom. Whether that is ultimately to Wearside is a different question however.
U14 GOALIE TO MAN CITY
Highly rated Academy of Light shot stopper Toby Bell is reportedly on the verge of making a move to Man City. Due to his age we will not receive a transfer fee for him but we will receive some compensation from City.
This news is testament to the continued quality of the Academy of Light, with the AoL still capable of developing young players to the standard that the best team in the country feels one of its players may one day be able to play for them.
Of course it would have been nice to keep him here until at least 16 and receive a more lucrative transfer fee, but the club can do little to ward off the interest of one of the country’s best academies as he is unable to be tied down to a contract at such a young age.
SANDERSON TO STOKE?
In other news, Stoke City have submitted a bid for ex-SAFC man Dion Sanderson, with the defender also linked with Birmingham as well as a potential return to the Stadium of Light. This comes off the back of another successful loan spell at Birmingham City from his parent club Wolves, who are reportedly looking to sell the defender this summer.
PATTERSON TO STAY
Anthony Patterson’s remarkable career rise from being third choice goalkeeper at a League One Sunderland and a loan deal to the National League to being one of the most promising young goalkeepers in the Championship at a promotion chasing SAFC has not gone unnoticed with interest from Premier League Wolves and now-Championship Leicester City.
We have apparently set an asking price of £10 million for his services but reports claim Patto is happy to stay on Wearside for now, with the goalie signing a long term deal only last summer running until 2026. He has also just been nominated for the FA Cup Save of the Season award for his double save away at Fulham in the fourth round back in January.
METHVEN TAKES OVER CHARLTON
The takeover of the League One club has been completed through Charlie Methven’s firm SE7 Partners, purchasing it from Thomas Sandgaard. The deal is still subject to EFL approval, but it would be some achievement to not pass their requirements (they are less than inadequate to put it mildly).
Methven of course gained notoriety within our fan base and beyond for his stellar performance in the Netflix documentary series Sunderland ‘Til I Die, with his unsavoury treatment of club employees and his sitcom-esque scene of trying to pick new pre-match music at the Stadium of Light being particularly notable features of the show.
This is Charlton’s fourth owner in four years and unfortunately, due to the nature of Charlie Methven, I don’t see its chaotic management and downward spiral as a football club improving in the near future.
ZAK JOHNSON ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Zak Johnson, the young 18 year old centre-back (he can also play as a right-back), who made his debut for Sunderland last season in the EFL Trophy and scored the winner against Newcastle U21s this season in the Premier League 2, has been awarded for his good performances by a call-up to the England U18 national team.
The AoL has seen a number of its players called up for England’s youth squads recently, with Tom Watson playing for the England U17s and Patterson receiving two call-ups for the England U21s in the 2022/23 campaign as well.
