Sunderland will be looking to offload some of the deadwood in the January transfer window.
Sunderland’s start to the 2024/25 season has been nothing short of brilliant, with them sitting top of the Championship as they enter the first international break of the campaign.
Unlike most of the Championship, Sunderland have a fairly-similar looking side to the 2023/24 side that was fairly unsatisfactory towards the latter stages of the campaign, but despite this, new boss Regis Le Bris has certainly appeared to have got a tune out of his squad so early on.
The Black Cats’ star players are starting to appear, including 17-year-old Chris Rigg, who has already been deemed to be a ‘generational talent’ following his incredible start to the campaign.
However, some players within Le Bris’ ranks have been less successful in getting game time, and as a result their future could be up for debate.
Here are three that could move on in January following the current uncertainty surrounding their future.
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Nazariy Rusyn
The Ukrainian international has hardly seen any game time so far in the 2024/25 Championship campaign, and with the arrival of Wilson Isidor, who performed brilliantly against Liverpool U21s on Monday as part of the youth side, there is even less assurance of Nazariy Rusyn being handed opportunities.
The winger can be utilised either up top or on the left, but the current form of Sunderland striker Eliezer Mayenda will also certainly make it much more likely for the Ukrainian to not have much of a future at the Stadium of Light.
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Jewison Bennette
Even though he was able to impress for the U21s in a 3-2 win against Middlesbrough on last week, Jewison Bennette still looks to have very little future at the Stadium of Light
The Costa Rican is still yet to register a league game under Le Bris, who appears to have left the attacker out of his plans despite the departure of Jack Clarke to Ipswich Town, and it would be highly likely to see the winger moved on in January in a loan move.
Adil Aouchiche
Adil Aouchiche was tipped to leave throughout the summer as a result of his somewhat frosty relationship with the Sunderland boss, of which formed from their time at FC Lorient.
The French attacking-midfielder managed 29 appearances last season, however he has been handed very little action in the league so far under Le Bris.
Midfield depth at this moment is brilliant for Sunderland, and with the abilities shown in the centre-of-the-park by Rigg in particular, Aouchiche is unlikely to get a look-in to the squad.