On Monday we looked into Sunderland’s potential departures from the defensive group. Today, we’re moving further up the pitch and looking at the midfield and attack. Which deadwood will be leaving, who may be going out on loan, as well as whether we can expect any high-profile departures.
Midfield & Wingers
Starting off in the middle of the park, Sunderland will be looking to retain their first-choice players, with Noah Sadiki probably the most likely to leave at this stage, although no really convincing links have
yet come out. The expectation, and certainly the intention from Florent Ghisolfi, is to keep the core of the squad together ahead of our Europa League campaign.
In terms of departures, the club have already announced the expiration of Dan Neil and Bertrand Traoré’s contracts, as well as the permanent departure of Harrison Jones to Peterborough, and Milan Aleksic leaving on loan to Partizan Belgrade, with an option for the Serbian side to make this permanent at the end of the season. An uninspiring signing, in all honesty, and one of few from Speakman that didn’t have the desired effect.
I’ve put together a list of four players we can expect to leave the club this summer. The first being Abdoullah Ba. Yes, he is still alive (we think). After a promising if unspectacular first campaign in 2022/23, followed by a disappointing 23/24, Ba has never really been given a chance under Régis Le Bris, with the Head Coach clearly not happy with Ba’s work in training. Ba had a loan spell in 24/25 to Le Havre, but was largely ineffective at the French club, and stuck around last season despite struggling for minutes, even for the U21s. A sign that his time at the club is coming to an end. Hopefully we can find a home for Ba permanently and he can live up to some of the early promise shown at the Stadium of Light.
Alan Browne is also expected to leave the club, with the Championship the most likely destination. A stalwart at Preston North End before signing for the lads, this is another example of the club progressing quicker than the players, with an injury-hit 24/25 campaign meaning Browne was replaced and loaned out on arrival to the Premier League. Browne may also have burnt bridges at the club, vocally speaking out against Sunderland’s transfer policy and branding it ‘unfair’ on arrival at Boro last season. A stereotypical strong Championship midfielder, expect Browne to be at a club flirting with promotion next season.
Now the wingers. Romaine Mundle first. Such a talent, and bags of potential, but he just can’t get a hold of this hamstring issue that has plagued him for roughly 18 months now. It’s expected that Mundle will leave the club, with an offer already being turned down from Toulouse. RLB is, however, a big fan of the young winger, so I can see a loan move being arranged so Mundle can prove his fitness. Although I wouldn’t be surprised to see him stay and be another homegrown player in the Europa League.
Finally for the wingers, Simon Adingra, probably one of two transfers that didn’t work out last season (Masuaku the other one). According to reports, AS Monaco will not be exercising their option to sign Adingra following his loan spell, and are expected to try and negotiate a lower fee for the Ivorian. It looks as if Adingra will not return to the Stadium of Light and, with Talbi and Angulo occupying the left wing, he isn’t really needed anymore either.
Forwards
A number of outgoings are expected amongst Sunderland’s frontline this summer, with several academy lads, including Jake Waters, already released. TeamTalk have recently reported that Brian Brobbey may be a target for Man Utd, although this feels like one of those ‘player scored at World Cup, link him with a big side’ rumours.
First of all, our two backup strikers, Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda. Nobody wants to see either of the two leave, although it appears increasingly likely that one or both of them will. Two massive fan favourites, I can see a world where Wilson remains and gets plenty of minutes through the Europa League and the natural rotation that brings. However, Mayenda is starting to feel like a foregone conclusion. A loan move may be a good option, as there is still plenty of time for the Spain U21 international to prove himself at the top level and reach the required level whilst a Sunderland player. Either way, an emotional departure seems likely.
Ahmed Abdullahi is somewhat of an enigma. You don’t see him for ages, he pops up out of nowhere, scores a brace for the U21s, and then disappears again for months. A loan may be beneficial for the Nigerian, who clearly knows where the net is, and could benefit from a League One side and attempt to prove his fitness.
And finally, two of the quartet of young strikers brought in by Kristjaan Speakman in 23/24, Nazariy Rusyn and Luis Hemir (Semedo or whatever he goes by these days). Rusyn is reportedly in talks with Ukrainian club FC Karpaty Lviv, following a series of uninspiring loan spells. However, further reports since then have stated Rusyn is happy to see out the final year of his contract, so we may have to wait a year to see the back of the Ukrainian. Hemir remains contracted at the club following an uneventful loan spell at Moreirense in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, scoring 3 in 21 games. Clearly not a fit for the club, Hemir still has two years left on his contract, and it is in the best interests of both player and club to find a permanent solution this summer.
Out of the players mentioned, I think we’re truly likely to see a maximum of three play in a Sunderland shirt again, in Mundle, Isidor and Mayenda, and this may only be in pre-season. Florent Ghisolfi needs to make sure that suitable replacements are through the door, or approaching the door, if and when these players leave, and he definitely has my trust in being able to do that. It certainly won’t be a boring summer, but when is it ever boring when you’re following Sunderland Association Football Club?
Let us know your thoughts on our potential outgoings, and don’t forget to check out Part One if you haven’t already.
