Sunderland have been impressive so far this season. So impressive that there’s transfer interest in their players ahead of January.
Few would’ve predicted that Regis Le Bris, in his first season managing in England, and after losing Jack Clarke, would have Sunderland top of the Championship table after eight games.
The Black Cats showed their class in midweek, beating Derby County 2-0 at the Stadium of Light without ever really getting out of second gear.
Jobe Bellingham scored a wonder-strike, with Wilson Isidor scoring his second in as many games following his summer loan move from Zenit.
Sunderland will really be put to the test on Friday night when they face Leeds United at home in the Championship.
It’ll be a true test of the players’ mettle, and the game may even draw the viewership of some Premier League teams who’ve been keeping tabs on certain Sunderland players.
Manchester United have been linked with Chris Rigg in recent weeks, with Real Madrid also interested.
More recently, United have been linked with Anthony Patterson.
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Anthony Patterson warned about Manchester United move
Patterson has had Premier League interest before, notably linked with Liverpool. Wolves were strongly linked last summer too.
The 24-year-old Sunderland academy graduate has now made 131 first-team appearances for the Black Cats, keeping 42 clean sheets in the process.
Speaking about Patterson’s recent links to Manchester United, pundit Carlton Palmer told Football League World: “I know a lot of clubs have been looking at Patterson, and there has been a lot of talk.
“But, I wouldn’t see why he would leave to go and sit on the bench. Man United is a fantastic football club, we all know that, but when you’re a regular in the first-team, you don’t want to go and waste years of your career.
“If you’re going to move, you want to move to be number one.”
Carlton Palmer is right about Anthony Patterson at Sunderland
As ever, the lure of the Premier League, and of Manchester United and the compensation they’d be able to offer, will be enticing.
But for Patterson, it would likely see him sitting on the bench for a long time to come, with United currently having some expensive first-team goalkeepers in their ranks.
Andre Onana is the current no.1, whilst Altay Bayindir is the no.2, who United signed for little over £4million last summer.
Patterson would be a lot more expensive than Bayindir. But his recent signing suggests that Patterson may even be fighting for the no.2 spot should be move to Old Trafford anytime soon.
With Sunderland fighting for promotion to the Premier League, Patterson may be best off biding his time.