Sunderland turning to Wigan Athletic after possible £20m transfer makes sense: View | OneFootball

Highlights

Sunderland are set for another hectic summer as the pressure builds on owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus to get things right after an underwhelming campaign.

Sunderland gearing up for huge summer

Firstly, the main priority for the hierarchy is to bring in a new head coach, as they’ve made a series of poor calls on that front this season, and it’s been costly, as the Black Cats have been unable to replicate a top six finish.

However, it’s not all about the next boss, as the Sunderland squad is expected to see significant changes.

We know the club’s strategy is about bringing in young players and then selling them on for profit, and Jack Clarke is likely to be the big sale this summer.

Sunderland’s goalkeeping situation

Yet, he may not be the only high-profile departure, as there are doubts about the future of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

The academy graduate established himself as the number one during the promotion-winning season in League One, and he has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the Black Cats since, where he has generally impressed.

Such form has caught the eye, with reports claiming that Liverpool, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest are monitoring the 23-year-old ahead of the summer window.

Obviously, Sunderland won’t want to sell, but it’s difficult to stand in the way of a player if top-flight football is on offer, and we know that every individual has a price.

Therefore, the club need to be lining up replacements, and fans should be encouraged by a recent link to Wigan Athletic stopper Sam Tickle.

The 22-year-old fits the profile of what Sunderland want in terms of his age and potential, and, most importantly, he has shown to be a really exciting talent.

Tickle has been hugely impressive for the Latics this season, keeping 13 clean sheets in 41 appearances, which is a very decent return for a mid-table side.

Whilst we don’t know who the next Sunderland boss will be, there is an expectation that they will appoint someone who wants to play out from the back - and Tickle can do that.

Shaun Maloney demands a similar approach, and whilst there are aspects of Tickle’s distribution that can improve, he is comfortable keeping it short or going long, and, at 22, there’s room for improvement.

As well as that, his shot-stopping ability is exceptional - as anyone who watched Wigan’s game against Manchester United in the FA Cup earlier this year will remember. But, it wasn’t just on the big stage where Tickle impressed, as he has pulled off fine saves on a weekly basis.

The youngster also shows real bravery when it comes to commanding his box, so he is a keeper that has all the tools to go a long way in the game.

Of course, Sunderland would be a step-up for Tickle, so it would be a risk in that sense, and, like all young players, he does have areas that he can improve, but there is an expectation that Tickle will be able to play at a higher level in the years to come.

From Sunderland’s perspective, they don’t want to lose Patterson, and it would be a blow. However, if they can bring in Tickle, it would be a fantastic replacement, and the profit they make could strengthen other areas of the team as they hope to push for promotion next season.