The most recent transfer news pertaining to Sunderland prior to Saturday’s match against Norwich City.
Following Michael Beale’s dismissal, Mike Dodds will be in charge of Sunderland’s first team until the end of the season when they take on Norwich City at Carrow Road in the Championship.
After suffering a 2-1 loss to Swansea City at the Stadium of Light last time out, Sunderland is currently midtable, eight points off of the play-off spots and twelve points behind 21st place.
Sunderland considering loan move
Sunderland is currently considering potential moves for young goalkeeper Adam Richardson in the latter part of the season, as reported by The Echo.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper, held in high regard by coaches at the Academy of Light, signed a three-year deal in May, extending his stay with the club until the summer of 2026. Despite a promising start during pre-season under Tony Mowbray, Richardson faced a setback when he sustained an injury towards the conclusion of last summer. Initially slated to join the senior goalkeeping group behind Nathan Bishop and first-choice Anthony Patterson, Richardson’s current status and future involvement are subjects of ongoing exploration by the club.
After recovering from his injury at the Academy of Light, Richardson has made two appearances for Sunderland’s under-21 team. However, as he competes with Nathan Bishop for playing time, the Black Cats are actively considering the option of a loan move for Richardson. This move would provide him with an opportunity to gain valuable experience and playing minutes elsewhere.
Despite the closure of the January transfer window, non-league clubs retain the option to loan players from teams in the EFL and Premier League. Following this trend, Sunderland has already sent the promising 16-year-old goalkeeper, Matty Young, on loan to Darlington in the National League North to provide him with valuable first-team experience. According to The Echo, there are indications that Sunderland is contemplating a similar loan move for Adam Richardson, aiming to afford him more playing time and development opportunities.
Former Sunderland man Mason Cotcher could join Leeds United
Mason Cotcher, a former youth team player for Sunderland, participated in a trial with Leeds United’s under-18s recently and notably scored against his former team. Cotcher departed Sunderland last summer, and despite attracting interest from prominent clubs such as Rangers in Scotland and Premier League sides Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal, as well as undergoing a recent trial at Manchester United, he has not officially signed with a new club.
Sunderland made efforts to retain Mason Cotcher, but their attempts were unsuccessful. Cotcher went on trial with Manchester United in January before eventually joining Leeds United. In a recent match between Leeds under-18s and Sunderland, Cotcher started and scored the only goal, leading his team to a 1-0 victory in the Premier League under-18 north competition.
Sunderland had presented an offer to Cotcher at the beginning of the summer, but negotiations on terms couldn’t be finalized. Although Sunderland remained open to Cotcher returning, they gradually accepted his departure as he explored options elsewhere.
For young players who have not signed professional terms, they can move between clubs, and compensation tribunals come into play if clubs fail to agree on a financial package. In Cotcher’s case, Sunderland would be entitled to compensation for their role in his development if he decides to sign with a new club.