Sources: Sunderland double-signing could force 23-year-old to leave on a free transfer
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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media, Imago)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Sun 14 September 2025 17:03, UK
Sunderland enjoyed a busy summer transfer window which saw Regis Le Bris spend over £160million on bolstering his squad for Premier League football.
However, the double signing of Reinildo and Arthur Masuaku has cast doubts over the future of one of their teammates at the Stadium of Light.
Dennis Cirkin has less than 12 months remaining on his Sunderland contract, and concerns are growing that he may already have been replaced.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 23-year-old could decide to assess his options on a free transfer next summer.
Sources say no decision has been made about the left-back’s future but has fallen down the pecking order at the Stadium of Light.
Credit: Imago
Football Insider revealed on 14 September that Tottenham are interested in signing Cirkin and are considering making a move in the January transfer window.
The left-back has yet to feature for the Black Cats this season after sustaining a wrist injury towards the end of their Championship campaign and could struggle to regain his place.
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With new questions arising about his place in Le Bris’ squad, the left-back could be forced to consider his options with his contract set to expire in 2026.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, I explained: “He’s in the final year of his contract at Sunderland and it remains to be seen if he will sign a new deal at the Stadium of Light.
“It’s a difficult one for Cirkin because he’s missed the start of the season with an injury and he’s yet to play, so he’s going to find himself down the pecking order.
“They’ve brought in Reinaldo on a free from Atletico Madrid and Masuaku, the former West Ham player, so there’s a lot of competition for the left-back position.
Regis Le Bris could’ve forced Dennis Cirkin out of Sunderland.
(Credit Imago)
“Cirkin could find his first-team chances limited this season, and in the final year of his contract he might decide to see what his options are as a free agent.
“The decision will be his to make, will he want to stay at Sunderland if he’s not playing, or will he want to move on and see if he can play regular first-team football?”
With interest from Tottenham ahead of the January transfer window, it is growing more likely that the left-back will be tempted to consider his options away from Sunderland.
Tottenham are interested in signing Cirkin ahead of the January transfer window amid ongoing doubts about his future at the Stadium of Light.
The 23-year-old came through Spurs’ academy before leaving for Sunderland in 2021, and sources say he would be open to a return to North London in the January transfer window.
Spurs’ current left-back options are Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence, with the latter having started the season in top form, and Cirkin would provide further depth.
Credit: Imago
Tottenham’s interest in Cirkin comes amid concerns surrounding Spurs’ club-trained homegrown players who have to be registered for the Champions League.
A “club-trained player” is someone who has been on a club’s books for three entire seasons or 36 months between the ages of 15 and 21, with four needed on each team.
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