The January transfer window is so close you can almost taste it, and Sunderland have already made their mind up on the fate of one fringe player.
While the key players in Sunderland’s first-team are flourishing under Regis Le Bris, there are a number of squad members who are clearly surplus to requirements.
With the Black Cats in a strong position in the Championship table, they need to ensure they get big decisions right in January to ensure the second half of the season goes to plan.
Le Bris has been praised for assembling a balanced squad already, but there is still work to be done, and clearing out one player appears to be high on the to-do list.
Nazariy Rusyn set for Sunderland exit in January
Having signed for Sunderland last summer, Nazariy Rusyn played fairly regularly in the 2023/24 campaign, but has found first-team opportunities near impossible to come by this year.
The Ukrainian forward has made seven appearances this season, racking up a total of just 145 minutes. He hasn’t featured at all since a five-minute cameo against Derby County back at the start of October.
It’s no surprise, then, that reports suggest Rusyn is all set for an exit from the Stadium of Light in the January transfer window.
That’s according to Zorya Lodonsk on Twitter/X, with Dmytro Vienkov claiming the departure is all but confirmed already, and the only matter left to resolve is where Rusyn goes and for how long.
Apparently, “the decision has been made” already when it comes to Rusyn’s fate, but whether it’s a loan move or a permanent transfer remains to be seen. His next destination has not been determined yet.
With the emergence of Tommy Watson out on the wing, and the relative success of Wilson Isidor in the forward area, it is unlikely Rusyn’s game time will improve going forward under Le Bris.
Regis Le Bris clearly has a handful of players he doesn’t want
While injuries could open the door for Rusyn to get another chance at Sunderland, it is very unlikely, and Le Bris’ selection decisions over the course of this season have made no secret of the players he doesn’t fancy.
Abdoullah Ba’s Sunderland career also appears to be over, having not played a single minute of football under Le Bris this term.
It has even been suggested that new signing Milan Aleksic could be sent out on loan in the New Year, while the future of fellow new-boy, Salis Abdul Samed, is still up for debate, with the midfielder yet to feature this season due to injury.
Most Sunderland fans will be hoping for new signings in January, but clearing out unwanted players could be just as useful for the long-term future of this project.