3 Sunderland AFC players surely heading for the exit door after promotion | OneFootball

Three Sunderland players that could depart the club now Premier League promotion has been secured

Sunderland gained promotion back to the Premier League with a play-off final win over Sheffield United last weekend.

The Black Cats have been outside of the top flight since their relegation in 2017 under David Moyes.

But Régis Le Bris has brought the Wearside outfit back to the big time at the first time of asking, having joined the club as head coach last summer.

The Frenchman will be looking to bolster his squad in the transfer market as they look to avoid the same fate as Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton this year of going straight back down to the Championship.

But that means some players will be left behind, and here we look at three Sunderland players that are surely heading for the exit door after promotion has been secured…

Leo Hjelde

Leo Hjelde is a player with plenty of potential to become an important player for a club of Sunderland’s stature.

However, the Norwegian simply hasn’t had the game time to really develop at the rate that the Black Cats will need for the Premier League.

The defender is still only 21 and has a contract with the Wearside outfit until the summer of 2028, so there’s no immediate rush to sell him.

However, if Sunderland want to bolster their squad then they will likely have to make sales in order to open up space.

Hjelde might be one player Le Bris could sacrifice in order to bring in a greater calibre of defender.

It’s possible a loan move might be a sensible option, but it could really depend on what kind of market is created for the youngster.

If the right permanent offer gets made, then it could be a smart time for Sunderland to cash in, as the full-back might not yet be ready for life in the Premier League.

Alan Browne

Alan Browne arrived at Sunderland as a free agent last summer, and his impact in the team has been important.

However, a significant injury issue in November saw him out of the team until February, and his game time upon return has been inconsistent.

The midfielder has often been utilised in other areas of the pitch, notably at full-back, filling in for other injured players.

The Irishman has spent the majority of his career playing in the Championship, and the opportunity to compete in the Premier League is part of why a move to Sunderland made sense for him 12 months ago.

However, there is now the chance that Sunderland could move on and look to sell the player in a bid to strengthen their options in the squad.

It would be harsh to cash in, but the signing of Enzo Le Fee last January is a sign that perhaps the club have already moved on from Browne.

Adil Aouchiche

Adil Aouchiche spent the second half of last season on loan at Portsmouth, helping John Mousinho’s side maintain their place in the Championship.

The forward struggled for game time under Le Bris, playing eight times for the Black Cats before moving to Fratton Park.

With Premier League promotion now secured, it’s difficult to see him breaking into the Frenchman’s plans at the Stadium of Light.

If he had really torn it up with Pompey then maybe he’d have a chance, but he contributed just one goal and one assist from 12 league appearances.