Sunderland have been forced to knock back interest in a number of players this summer.
Their disappointing 2023/24 campaign has unsurprisingly led to heavy interest in some of their biggest stars.
Recent reports have claimed Sunderland have already rejected a £7 million bid for Trai Hume, while the likes of Pierre Ekwah, Dan Ballard and Anthony Patterson have also been hitting the headlines.
The Black Cats have so far managed to shut down exit rumours though, with both Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham set to stay at the club.
However, fans were left baffled when rumours emerged last week claiming that Luke O’Nien was a target for both Middlesbrough and Leeds United.
The defender was named Sunderland’s captain last season and became a pivotal figure in the team after putting pen to paper on a new deal.
‘Absolutely no suggestion’ that Luke O’Nien will leave Sunderland
Talk of the 28-year-old’s exit came out of the blue, but journalist Phil Smith has been quick to shut them down, claiming he would be ‘absolutely staggered’ if he left.
Speaking on Sunderland Echo’s YouTube channel, Smith said: “”No idea where that’s come from. Absolutely no suggestion of that whatsoever from within the camp or being around the group.
“Football is a weird thing, strange things can happen and things can change quickly, but I think O’Nien will have the captain’s armband this season. I think he’s an absolutely core player in the side.
“They really like his experience and his leadership within the group – I think he brings a lot with his passing range. I know that he’s not everybody’s cup of tea as a central defender, but I think him and Ballard were probably one of the main things in the team. They were sort of succeeding and working well last season.
“So I’ll be honest with you – not heard anything about him, I don’t see it. He’s go two years left on his deal. I think he’s seen as a critical part of this team. I’d be absolutely staggered if he left. Funny things in football, but I just don’t see it. I think he starts the first day of the season with the captain’s armband.”
The defender deserves more praise than he receives
O’Nien has come under plenty of criticism during his time at the club, but there is a reason why he continues to be one of the first names on the team-sheet.
The defender won the third-most tackles in the squad last season (65), as well as the second-most interceptions (63), the second-most clearances (128),the third-most shots blocked (21), the third-most aerials won (80) and comfortably the most completed passes (3161).
He has made his fair share of mistakes, but O’Nien has been a scapegoat at Sunderland for years now and is completely undeserving of it.
If the Black Cats were to sell O’Nien, then his importance would very quickly become apparent.
Whether fans like him or not, it seems likely that he will be hanging around for at least a couple of years.