Following Michael Beale’s dismissal,c will be in charge of Sunderland’s first team until the conclusion of the season when they take on Norwich City at Carrow Road in the Championship.
After suffering a 2-1 loss to Swansea City at the Stadium of Light last time out, Sunderland is in midtable, eight points off of the play-off spots and twelve points behind 21st place.
The Echo has gathered that throughout the second part of the season, Sunderland is considering their options with relation to rookie goalkeeper Adam Richardson.
Coaches at the Academy of Light hold great regard for Richardson, and last May, they offered him a three-year contract that would have kept him on Wearside until the summer of 2026.
Richardson, 20, played for Sunderland under Tony Mowbray during the preseason. Prior to suffering an injury towards the end of the previous summer, he was expected to join the senior goalkeeping group behind Nathan Bishop and first-choice Anthony Patterson. Richardson has since recovered at the Academy of Light and has made two appearances for Sunderland’s under-21 team, but he is competing with Bishop for playing time, so the Black Cats are considering a loan move.
The Sunderland youth teamer Mason Cotcher played for Leeds United’s under-18s on trial recently and scored against his old team. Cotcher left Sunderland last summer, but the player has not yet signed for a new club despite interest from Scottish giants Rangers, Premier League clubs Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal, as well as a trial at Manchester United. While the January transfer window is now closed, non-league clubs can still loan players from teams in the EFL and Premier League. Sunderland recently sent highly-rated goalkeeper Matty Young, 16, to Darlington in the National League North to gain first-team minutes – and The Echo understands the Wearsiders are looking into a similar move for Richardson.
Cotcher went on trial with Manchester United in January before joining Leeds United, despite Sunderland’s best efforts to cling onto him being fruitless. In the Premier League under-18 north campaign, Leeds under-18s defeated Sunderland 1-0 thanks to a goal by Cotcher, who began and ended the match.
At the beginning of the summer, the Back Cats made Cotcher an offer, but the two sides were unable to come to an understanding on the conditions. As the striker considered his alternatives, Sunderland grew more accepting of Cotcher’s departure, even if they remained open to him rejoining them should he have a change of heart.
In the event that clubs are unable to come to an agreement on a financial package, young players who have not yet signed professional terms are free to transfer between clubs, and Sunderland will receive payment for their role in Cotcher’s development should the player sign with another team.
