Milan Aleksic ‘must leave Sunderland’ after what happened vs Sporting Lisbon
Sunderland continued their preparations for next season with a 1-0 defeat to Sporting Lisbon.
It was another solid workout for Regis Le Bris’ side, after their 1-1 draw with Sevilla on Saturday (19 July).
The result will have given Le Bris plenty to think about going into the next campaign, with incomings and outgoings still expected.
Milan Aleksic could be one of those who joins Jude Bellingham out the door this summer after what happened in the Mackems’ latest friendly.
Aleksic to leave on loan after poor performance
Aleksic was signed by Sunderland in the summer transfer window in 2024, but has struggled to earn regular gametime on Wearside.
Supporters had been hoping that the midfielder could earn a regular first-team spot during preseason, but things haven’t quite gone to plan for the Serbian.
| Milan Aleksic’s 2024/25 Championship statistics | Total |
| Appearances (starts) | 8 (3) |
| Minutes per game | 36 |
| Accurate passes | 8.3 (68%) |
| Touches | 21.6 |
A potential exit for Aleksic could now be on the cards after a subpar performance against Sporting Lisbon in the Algarve.
The 19-year-old, who signed from Serbian side FK Radnicki, has had things made harder for him this summer, with the signings of Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra putting him even further down the pecking order.
Aleksic has been linked with a permanent move away from the Stadium of Light during the transfer window. However, a loan move might be best for all parties.
Aleksic will come good for Sunderland
Aleksic must leave Sunderland on loan to gain valuable experience elsewhere.
Supporters have been used to youngsters such as Chris Rigg coming good straight away in the red and white stripes, but that can’t be expected of everyone.
Le Bris has learnt how to get the best out of his young Mackems so far, and there is no doubt that the Frenchman will manage to get the best out of Aleksic.
The midfielder is one of the few who have missed out due to the Mackems’ promotion, and had they still been in the second tier, the youngster would have had an ideal opportunity to excel.
Sign up for the Mackem News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Sunderland AFC news sent straight to your phone.