A Sunderland transfer target currently playing in the Premier League has omitted himself from his club’s pre-season tour.
Sunderland played their second-to-last pre-season friendly on Tuesday evening.
The Black Cats travelled to Valley Parade to face League Two Bradford City, losing the game 2-1 in a performance that’s received very mixed reviews from fans on social media.
Romaine Mundle was on the score-sheet for Sunderland who play their final pre-season game vs Marseille on Saturday.
Regis Le Bris‘ side have had a fairly turbulent summer and are still waiting on some new additions before their Championship opener away at Cardiff City on August 10th.
Sunderland have signed Ian Poveda to take their summer signing tally to three; Simon Moore and Alan Browne are the other two arrivals.
Sunderland are trying to sign a new striker and generally bolster their side with some star quality, with one name on their radar being Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Sunderland handed Jesurun Rak-Sakyi update at Crystal Palace
Rak-Sakyi, 21, has no shortage of suitors this summer, having been linked with the likes of Sunderland, Leeds United, Hull City, and QPR, with reports that at least 15 Championship clubs are interested in Rak-Sakyi at Place.
Southampton were looking to sign Rak-Sakyi on a permanent deal this summer, though it seems like the Saints are falling behind in that move.
Now, Alan Nixon is reporting on Patreon that Rak-Sakyi has opted to stay in the UK as his Crystal Palace teammates fly out to the US for part of their pre-season preparation.
Nixon describes the ‘surprise development’, stating that Rak-Sakyi has impressed Palace officials in pre-season and that the Eagles wanted him to stake a claim for a spot in the first-team ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
What next for Sunderland target Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
It appears as though Rak-Sakyi may be staying behind in the UK to try and force a permanent exit through, with recent reports claiming that the player would prefer a move to Southampton over the likes of Leeds United this summer.
That then could mean that a loan exit for Rak-Sakyi this summer is starting to look very unlikely, all but ruling Sunderland out of a potential move for the exciting winger.
But that might be good news to some at the Stadium of Light; in particular Mundle who shone against Bradford City in what was an otherwise tired performance from the Black Cats.
So as one door closes, another might open for Sunderland and Mundle.