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Oliver Walton

Mon 18 August 2025 21:02, UK

Patrick Roberts’ Sunderland career could be over against his will as the Black Cats target yet another major summer signing who may take his place in Regis Le Bris’ squad.

Sunderland sealed promotion to the Premier League last season in the play-off final, and they have not rested on their laurels this summer in search of top-flight success.

Regis Le Bris has focused on bolstering his options across the pitch, with Granit Xhaka arriving at the Stadium of Light from Bayer Leverkusen, Marc Guiu moving to Wearside on loan from Chelsea and Reinildo Mandava joining the Black Cats after he left Atletico Madrid, among many others.

The likes of Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi and former loanee Enzo Le Fee have all joined permanently to provide competition on the wings too, and Roberts has slipped down the pecking order over the summer as a result.

He registered two goals and eight assists during the Black Cats’ promotion campaign, but has limited experience of playing in the top-flight and may now be forced to depart as they eye up another new attacker.

(Credit Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

According to talkSPORT (18 August), Sunderland have submitted a £28million bid to sign Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu, after he notched six goals and 13 assists in their last second-tier season before suffering a long-term injury last term.

Fatawu is also a target for Everton, but a move to the Stadium of Light now seems more likely to materialise with Sunderland having made a concrete approach.

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He is bound to want to continue testing himself in the top-flight at just 21-years-old, and he recently urged Leicester fans to get behind the team more after their rocky start to the new season, so certainly could be open to getting away from the King Power Stadium as soon as possible.

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If that move does happen, then Roberts may well be pushed out of the Wearside club to make space for Fatawu’s arrival, especially considering that the ex-Man City man is already second-choice on the right-wing to new signing Talbi.

He has also already been linked with a potential move away from the club this summer, after the Sunderland Echo (5 August) reported that Roberts had attracted interest from several La Liga clubs, but not currently considering a move away from the Stadium of Light due to being settled in the area.

Their report stated that while representatives of at least two Spanish clubs had contacted Roberts’ camp, but while those advances were rejected, his hand could be forced to leave if Sunderland admit that he has little chance of playing.

That was “understood not to be the case” then, but if Fatawu does join then it will surely diminish Roberts chances of consistent game-time this season, and he could be made to depart despite his hopes.

Sunderland were fantastic against West Ham on Saturday (16 August) as they returned to the Premier League with a 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light, and they will undoubtedly be backing themselves to stay up this season after such a good start.

Le Bris’ side were relentless in their pursuit of three points to start the new campaign off, and their impressive summer business has clearly set them up for a decent season, with more players seemingly still to arrive on Wearside.

AppearancesGoalsAssists58715Fatawu’s Leicester career stats

Fatawu would be an ideal addition given his pace, versatility and potential to improve even further with more game-time in the top-flight, and being able to bring on a player like him off the bench would surely be a lot more favourable than someone like Roberts, who is a lot older and does not possess similarly strong attributes.

The Sunderland Echo’s previous report claimed that “several clubs in England and potentially Scotland” would be interested in the 28-year-old if he was available, and so if that is now the case, he is surely not set to be short of suitors to join for the campaign ahead.

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