Sunderland have so far done well not to lose any of their key players.
at The Academy of Light on July 1, 2024 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
The Sunderland first-team squad is one full of exciting young talent, and the Premier League has taken notice this summer.
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has proved divisive among Sunderland fans at times, but he deserves praise for putting together what is a very valuable set of players right now.
The likes of Jack Clarke, Jobe Bellingham, Anthony Patterson, Dan Ballard, Dan Neil, Chris Rigg, and Pierre Ekwah have all had links to the Premier League or to top flight European sides this summer.
Sunderland though are yet to cash in on any of those wanted stars; journalist Phil Smith has suggested Sunderland should cash in on one of their in demand players, and reinvest it into the squad much like Coventry City do.
Now, it appears as though one Sunderland player is set for the exit, but it’s not one from the first-team.
Sunderland starlet Mason Cotcher set for Aston Villa medical
Sunderland look set to lose Elliot Embleton this summer; it’s recently been revealed that Embleton is undergoing a medical with Blackpool after what’s been a stop start few years for the midfielder.
Now, another Sunderland academy man could soon follow Embleton out of the doors at the Stadium of Light, with reports that Sunderland gem Mason Cotcher is set for a medical with Aston Villa.
The Telegraph report that Cotcher, 17, is ‘set to undergo a medical at Aston Villa’ on Friday, and that the club’s have now ‘agreed on a package’ for Cotcher to move to Villa Park.
The same report adds that a deal could be ‘finalised over the weekend’ when Sunderland get underway in the 2024/25 Championship season away vs Cardiff City.
Why Sunderland have failed in Mason Cotcher to Aston Villa
Cotcher; a youngster who’s impressing in the Sunderland youth ranks and turning heads in the Premier League, is very much the type of player that Sunderland want in their first-team.
But the Black Cats have failed to promote the attacker and now he’s set to leave the club without ever making a first-team appearance.
This situation is very similar to the Chris Rigg one in that Rigg was also impressing in the academy, also had suitors in the Premier League, but instead got a taste of first-team football at Sunderland and now looks set to become a very valuable asset for the club.
Speakman may be kicking himself over Cotcher to Aston Villa. But it should be a lesson learned for the Sunderland figure.
