A Sunderland player has been tipped to leave the club this summer, after just one year at the club.
Sunderland look set for a few changes in the summer.
It’s looking highly likely that Sunderland will bring in a new, permanent boss to replace interim boss Mike Dodds, who’s lost two out of two games so far.
And there looks set to be some wholesale changes to the playing staff as well with names like Jack Clarke looking destined to leave, as well as the likes of Dan Ballard who now has interest from Everton.
Another name who’s now been tipped to leave the Stadium of Light this summer is midfielder Bradley Dack.
Bradley Dack tipped to leave Sunderland after injury-riddled season
Dack, 30, joined Sunderland as a free agent last summer following his release from Blackburn Rovers.
But the Englishman has featured just 12 times in the Championship for Sunderland this season, scoring once and assisting once.
He’s yet to feature in 2024 owing to injury, though he’s thought to be closing in on a return to action.
And Sunderland Echo have now labelled Dack as ‘likely to leave’ in the summer, writing:
“The former Blackburn Rovers man has spent most of the season injured. Dack’s contract ends in June. Sunderland do have the option to extend that deal but that scenario looks unlikely at present.”
Dack shone for Blackburn Rovers during the 2018/19 season where he scored 15 and assisted seven as Rovers earned promotion from League One under Tony Mowbray, who previously described Dack as a ‘genius’ footballer.
But Mowbray would be dealt a huge blow the following season when a cruciate ligament injury curtailed Dack’s season; the first of two similar injuries which have plagued Dack since.
A gamble for the Black Cats, and one that’s not paid off
Dack reuniting with Mowbray seemed to make sense going into this season.
Last season, Dack managed to find some fitness, featuring 27 times in the Championship and scoring four goals for Blackburn.
So it tempted Mowbray and Sunderland to bring him to Wearside, though he’s once again struggled with injuries and has barely played, which the club would’ve known was a possibility.
Although Sunderland have the option to extend his stay by a further year, it looks highly like that Dack now leaves this summer, like Sunderland Echo points out.
What comes next for Dack remains to be seen, and whether he’ll play again for the Black Cats is likewise; even if he returns and puts in some good performances, it still seems unlikely that Sunderland would want to keep him due to his age and injury record.
So it looks like Dack will embark on another chapter next season.
At 30 he still has some years ahead of him and if he can find some consistency with his injuries, he’ll be an asset to whoever he signs for.
He’s shown in the past that he’s a player who can really dictate games in the Championship and in League One, so expect him to have plenty of interest should he become a free agent in the summer.
Sunderland host Leicester City in the Championship tonight.