Celtic Fc Leading , Arsenal and Liverpool’s interest in £20m-rated Sunderland star is genuine – transfer status explained
Sunderland’s goalkeeping situation will provide an interesting sub-plot to the club’s head coach search this summer.
Sunderland’s goalkeeping situation makes for interesting viewing ahead of the summer transfer window.
Anthony Patterson has been Sunderland’s deserved number one since midway through the club’s final season in League One after he was brought in to replace Ron-Thorben Hoffmann under Alex Neil. Since then, the North Shields-born stopper has made 104 straight league appearances for the Black Cats. 109 if you include play-off games.
Patterson’s successful run in Sunderland’s first-team has prompted transfer reports to emerge linking Arsenal, Liverpool and Celtic with a move during the summer transfer window. Some outlets have rated the goalkeeper as worth as much as £10m to £20m. The Echo understands that the interest from the trio is indeed genuine. Patterson is seen a hugely desirable commodity for several reasons.
Firstly, Patterson is homegrown and would help Premier League clubs towards filling their homegrown quota. Secondly, he is hugely talented. His shot-stopping abilities are superb and he has improved his physical presence and command of his penalty area in recent months. Patterson is also capable of making big saves under pressure. Think of Sam Vokes’ chance for Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley. Patterson also enjoys a decent penalty saving record.
Of course, there is still work to be done regarding other aspects of Patterson’s game, his kicking and distribution for instance. However, Patterson is still only relatively young for a goalkeeper at just 23 and still has time to develop. His North East goalkeeping colleague Nick Pope, an excellent Premier League number one and England international, provides an intriguing comparison. At the same age, Pope was playing for York City in League Two.
Another string to Patterson’s bow – aside from his tally of 134 senior appearances – is that he is regularly playing in front of crowds of over 40,000 at Sunderland in a sometimes pressured environment. Patterson’s calm temperament and ability to perform at such a big club has caught the attention of other big teams in the United Kingdom.
The Echo understands, though, that Patterson is not expecting to leave, nor his he actively pushing for a move. Patterson is a boyhood Sunderland fan and remains content playing for the club. However, just because the player is happy at the moment does not mean he will definitely stay put this summer.
