Sunderland can't let six-figure fee lower asking price for Aston Villa and Leeds target: View | OneFootball

Some of Sunderland's key players look set to attract bids this summer, with the Black Cats' potential failure to reach the play-offs potentially weakening their negotiating power.

Jack Clarke is one player who could be set to depart - and Pierre Ekwah is another man who has attracted Premier League interest in recent months.

But Trai Hume is the latest Black Cats man to attract interest - and that comes as no surprise considering how heavily he has featured this term.

Establishing himself as a key player last season, the Northern Irishman has continued to get plenty of game time under his belt and even though the Wearside club haven't always been successful this term, he has shone.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, top-flight duo AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa are keen on him, with the Black Cats' Championship rivals Leeds United and Leicester City also admirers.

Interest in his signature isn't just limited to English teams though, with Napoli also taking an interest.

Key figures at the Stadium of Light will be delighted that the full-back has attracted interest, because it will give them an opportunity to sell him for a handsome profit and then reinvest that money back into the team.

That will only increase their chances of being successful in the long term, so even if they lose a key player like Hume this summer, they could richly benefit from it through the transfer fee they generate for his signature.

How much Sunderland paid to sign Trai Hume

Hume was signed from Linfield back in the January of 2022 and at the time of his arrival, the BBC reported that he came in for a fee believed to be in the region of £200,000.

But judging by the Northern Irish team's financial accounts, £150,000 may be a more accurate figure, making him even more of a bargain for the Black Cats.

Considering how often the right-back has appeared for the Wearside club and the fact he has been such an asset at the SoL, he has been one of the best signings in the EFL in recent years.

The Black Cats may have signed him for a modest fee - but they shouldn't be prepared to lower their asking price because of that and there are many reasons why.

Firstly, other key players could leave this summer and if Clarke goes, something that seems likely if the club aren't promoted, the Black Cats may not have to accept a bid for Hume. That should maximise his price tag.

Not only that, but the 22-year-old's contract doesn't expire until 2027 and even when it does, the second-tier side have the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months.

That should allow the Wearside outfit to demand a sizeable amount for him, with his age also likely to raise his price tag.

If the club are to succeed in the future, they need to abide by financial rules and that means the amount raised by player sales will be crucial.

Ticket sales may also play a part, but player sales are just as important, especially when they can generate big fees for the likes of Clarke, Ekwah and Hume.

The more they raise, the more they can spend in the market and if spent wisely, big fees received could be a game-changer for a side that have the potential to secure a top-tier return at some point.