Regis Le Bris confirms Sunderland duo are waiting to leave Stadium of Light in January
Sunderland signed 13 players in the summer transfer window in order to give themselves the best chances of avoiding relegation.
Sunderland have returned to the top flight in brilliant fashion, securing eight points from their first five games.
Sunderland’s 1-1 draw against Aston Villa highlighted how smart this summer’s recruitment has been, with Granit Xhaka starring in midfield.
Nordi Mukiele has also been excellent for Sunderland, yet the performances of these new additions have left certain squad members as outcasts.
Regis Le Bris has now discussed plans for players to leave the club in the January transfer window.
Jay Matete and Joe Anderson to be sold in January
Speaking on Thursday, ahead of Sunderland’s clash versus Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Le Bris spoke about what the future could hold for both Jay Matete and Joe Anderson.
He said: “They are still training with the group because we need to take care of them.
“They are not involved with the core of the squad right now, so they are probably waiting for the next transfer window to find a new opportunity.
“It’s not ideal, but football is like that; sometimes you have the perfect pathway, sometimes that is not the case, and you have to manage the situation properly.”
Matete has been at Sunderland since 2022, yet three loan spells in three years have left him on the periphery of the squad.
- Plymouth (January 2023 – June 2023)
- Oxford United (Februrary 2024 – March 2024)
- Bolton (August 2024 – June 2025)
Despite making 45 appearances for Bolton last season, Le Bris has never viewed him as a player who could help the team in the Premier League.
As for Anderson, he joined Sunderland’s academy from Everton in 2022, and made three appearances for the Black Cats in all competitions last year.
With the defender’s future at the Stadium of Light effectively over, a move to the Championship or League One seems likely.
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Sunderland’s Championship stars have suffered due to the summer’s rebuild
The class of 2025 that achieved a long-awaited promotion for the Mackems are all experiencing varying levels of playing time in the Premier League.
Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor are sharing the striking duties between them, although Isidor’s red-hot form means he is expected to start consistently now.
Trai Hume is the only player from last year to have started every game this season, with the full-back adapting to the top flight seamlessly.
On the flip side, Dan Neil looks set to leave Sunderland in January, with the playoff-winning captain hardly playing in the Premier League, whilst Anthony Patterson is now the number two goalkeeper.
Chris Rigg and Enzo Le Fee have both featured sporadically, with Le Fee picking up a goal in the 2-1 win over Brentford.
The difference in quality between the Championship and the Premier League is evident, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that hardly any of last season’s team is experiencing regular playing time.
However, with Matete and Anderson confirmed to leave in January, it’s only a matter of time before the core group of the 2024/25 season starts to fade out under Le Bris.
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