Despite a poor start, Sunderland Football Club has had a great start to the new season.
The Black Cats entered this season with different expectations than in prior seasons.
The club had a terrific season in 2022/23, in which they played some really good football, mixed youth and experience, and won several games to finish in the play-off places.
So, with Sunderland in the top six after eight games, everyone associated with the club will be thrilled.
The Black Cats had a very hectic summer, as Tony Mowbray looked to freshen up his side with new additions but was also on the end of losing one or two key players.
The club is very smart when it comes to transfer business, as they aren’t in a position where they need to sell. But, here at Football League World, we have picked two players who could be the next big money departures…
Jobe Bellingham
No Sunderland fan will want to read that Jobe Bellingham is already being mentioned as a possible exit.
However, the club will know if the midfielder follows the same footpath as his older brother, then they know at some point they may be unable to keep hold of him.
Bellingham broke through at Birmingham and showed on glimpses that he is a very talented player.
He decided to take up the opportunity at Sunderland this summer, and nine games into his Sunderland career, he is already showing why he is highly rated.
Despite the fact that Bellingham is only 18 years old, Mowbray has trusted him from the outset and has started him in every Championship game thus far.
He already has two goals to his name, both of which came in a strong showing against Rotherham United earlier this season.
Bellingham signed a long-term contract with the Black Cats, and the club will be hoping to keep him for a few more years. However, it would not be surprising to see some elite teams come sniffing for Bellingham, as they did for his brother a few years ago.
Jack Clarke
This may be a player that Sunderland fans would expect to see, in terms of possible big-money departures.
Clarke was heavily linked with a move away in the summer, with Sunderland turning down numerous bids.
The 22-year-old has made another excellent start to the season, scoring five goals in eight league appearances. This, on top of his form from last season, makes him a player that most Premier League teams are keeping an eye on.
Clarke is under contract at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2026, but if he wants to leave and maintain his fine form, the former Leeds United star may command a high cost.
Sunderland made it clear in the summer that they did not want to sell, therefore it will take a substantial money for them to even consider selling. Sunderland have changed this; their transfer policy has seen them bring in a lot more younger players, which means that if they do go, they leave for a lot more than they were bought for.