It has been a January transfer window which has seen Sunderland add more relative rookies to an already young squad, as the Black Cats continue to plan for the long-term.
But while they may remain on Wearside for now, a number of players in Tony Mowbray’s squad will be wondering if they have a future under him beyond the summer.
Here, we look at five players who may be at risk of leaving the Stadium of Light at the end of the season.
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Lynden Gooch
The American has struggled with injuries this campaign, and has watched as his replacement Trai Hume has made a name for himself and became something of a fans’ favourite.
Already facing a fight to reclaim his place this season, with Hume likely to develop further as he gets more game-time, and Niall Huggins also showing his first-team credentials after battling back from long-term injury, Gooch may be forced into an agonising decision this summer. Although he may divide opinion on Wearside, Gooch’s commitment to Sunderland goes back an astonishing 17 years, meaning his departure would be a hugely emotional one.
Alex Pritchard
There are a lot of factors in this potential move away, with Pritchard out of contract in the summer, injuries having impacted his season and other players shining in his absence.
Again, he played a massive role in Sunderland’s promotion last season, having made 36 appearances in his maiden season on Wearside. But with the Black Cats’ recent recruitment focusing strongly on youth – particularly in attacking areas - and Pritchard a few mongths from his 30th birthday, a parting of the ways could be likely.
Jack Diamond
Diamond’s Sunderland career has been riddled with loan spells – three at Harrogate Town and a current stint at Lincoln City. But while the winger has impressed at both clubs – particularly in his second spell at Harrogate - the number of wide attacking options now available to Tony Mowbray means the 23-year-old could be squeezed out at the Stadium of Light once and for all this summer.
Leon Dajaku
Dajaku has struggled for minutes on his time in Wearside, and has recently been sent on loan to Swiss side St Gallen. Once again, with the amount of attacking players Sunderland have at their disposal, that does not bode well for Dajaku’s long-term future at the Stadium of Light. His 37 appearances for Sunderland have produced four goals and four assists, and he looked full of promise during his early days at the club.
But with the permanent arrivals of the likes of Jack Clarke, Isaac Lihadji and Patrick Roberts, and the loan capture of Joe Gelhardt, Dajaku will do well to make the bench on his return from Switzerland. And, at 21, there is a chance Sunderland could recoup a fair portion of the near-£1m they paid for him last summer.
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