Regis Le Bris has sent out a stern message to top sides targeting his key players in the January transfer window.
With the January transfer window fully underway, one of Sunderland’s biggest task will be looking to keep hold of their top targets that have played a crucial role in their successful 2024/25 Championship season so far.
There is interest in Black Cats shot-stopper Anthony Patterson, however, he has responded that he wasn’t aware of any clubs from elsewhere looking to attain his services.
Further up the pitch, the likes of Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham have also been piquing the interest of Premier League and European clubs, however, it will be a difficult task for any sides to acquire either of the young midfield duo that have come on leaps and bounds this season. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has responded to the potential interest in his top players, and has reiterated a stance that Black Cats fans will be relieved to see.
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris highlights club ‘dynamic’ and confidence in keeping key players
Going into the winter window, Sunderland were always going to be aware of the double-edged sword of their youngsters performing to their best abilities this season, and any interest that does come their way certainly isn’t a surprise.
In the pre-match press conference ahead of Sunderland’s clash with Portsmouth, where the Black Cats will be hoping to make it three successive wins at the Stadium of Light, Le Bris was quizzed in regards to whether he is worried about keeping ahold of key players, to which he said: “I think for them, they can understand the dynamic, where they are today is positive for their improvement, so it’s good news to have this interest from other clubs, but at the same time I think they are really involved in the project today.”
The reporter at the conference followed up with another question, asking: “So, you’re quite confident in keeping hold of them?”
Le Bris coolly responded: “Yes.”
Bellingham is one player that has attracted interest this January, with Man United and Arsenal reportedly interested in the midfielder.
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At this stage of the likes of Rigg and Bellingham’s careers, they undoubtedly need to be prioritising their own game time, something that would be far from guaranteed if they move elsewhere, particularly at this midway point in the 2024/25 Championship season.
Sticking with Sunderland means that the midfield pairing, and any other key Black Cats man that gains interest, will get the assurance that they will play regularly, under a boss that can get the very best out of youngsters, and give them the platform to be a focal point in a top club that is very much part of a promotion push.
For both the short and long term sake of the current Sunderland players’ careers, very few positives can be brought up to persuade one of them that a move away from Wearside is the answer.