Five Sunderland players who may have played their final game for Regis Le Bris after play-off final victory

Add as preferred source on Google

Attention now turns to the summer transfer window after Sunderland’s dramatic comeback victory over Sheffield United secured Premier League promotion.

After Tyrese Campbell opened the scoring for Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final, it looked as though Chris Wilder’s side would end up as the victors.

However, after VAR ruled out their second goal, fortunes turned in Sunderland’s favour in a game worth over £200m.

Eliezer Mayenda’s emphatic strike brought the tie level, before Tommy Watson completed the perfect end to his Sunderland story with a 94th-minute winner, to send the travelling Black Cats faithful into unforgettable scenes.

As Regis Le Bris and the Sunderland hierarchy now prepare for life back in the top flight, there are several stars who may have already played their final games in red-and-white stripes.

• READ MORE: Anthony Patterson proved his Sunderland doubters wrong with match-winning display in play-off final, he was key to the win

Five Sunderland players who may have played final game for Regis Le Bris

Jobe Bellingham

Jobe Bellingham’s name will be the most concerning on the list, for those of a red-and-white persuasion, of Sunderland players who may have already played their final games for Le Bris.

Bellingham joined the Black Cats in the summer of 2023, from his boyhood club Birmingham City, for an initial reported fee of £1.5m.

The combative midfielder has been instrumental to Sunderland’s promotion journey, excelling under Le Bris this season by earning Young Player of the Season, registering 43 goal contributions in 43 Championship appearances this term.

EFL Analysis exclusively revealed ahead of the play-off final that Bellingham would depart regardless of the play-off final result, and the 19-year-old travelled to Germany for transfer talks days after the Wembley victory.

With multiple Bundesliga clubs fighting to secure Bellingham’s signature, Sunderland look destined to lose one of their top talents ahead of their Premier League return, for a fee in the region of £30m.

• READ MORE: Three tasks at the top of Regis Le Bris’ to-do list this summer after Sunderland secure Premier League promotion

Ian Poveda

Former Leeds United winger Ian Poveda is another player seemingly set to leave Wearside this summer following the play-off final victory.

Right-winger Poveda arrived at Sunderland as a free agent this summer and was expected to challenge Patrick Roberts for a starting role.

However, his acquisition by the Black Cats hierarchy has been nothing short of a waste, with the 25-year-old failing to start a game under Le Bris across the whole Championship campaign amid disciplinary and injury issues.

If Poveda can’t start a game in the second tier for Le Bris, it begs the question of how he hopes to feature in the top flight, and as such it looks likely he will leave the club after only one pointless season.

Harrison Jones

Academy of Light graduate Harrison Jones made his Sunderland first-team debut this season after rising the Wearside ranks in impressive fashion.

Jones made his first start in the Championship this season, in the 1-0 home defeat to Swansea City, taking his tally to six second tier appearances for his boyhood club.

Via the BBC, Jones said of his debut: “I’ve been in the crowd many, many times myself.

“I know what they want to see on the pitch, so it’s what I try to emulate. Working hard, I think that’s just an absolute given.”

Despite Jones’ efforts being hailed by Le Bris throughout the campaign, his inexperience at the level required for Sunderland means the best course of action for his development would be to depart for a side lower in the leagues, as the Black Cats need to pad their squad out with Premier League quality.

Joe Anderson

Joe Anderson has played only 98 minutes of Championship football for Sunderland this season and is therefore another poised to depart.

Anderson arrived from Everton in the 2022/23 campaign, but has failed to nail down consistent minutes in a red-and-white shirt, with his most recent appearance coming in the 1-0 home defeat against Blackburn Rovers ahead of the play-off campaign.

The 24-year-old defender has only one year left on his current Black Cats deal. As such, the best course of action for both Anderson and the club, is to cut ties in the summer transfer window.

Simon Moore

Veteran goalkeeper Simon Moore has been a suitable seasoned deputy for first choice shot-stopper Anthony Patterson this season.

Moore kept three clean sheets in four Championship starts this season when filling in for Patterson. However, if he stays in the Sunderland squad, Premier League minutes will be even harder to come by.

Rumours have circulated this season that Moore could be set to join the goalkeeping coaching set-up at Sunderland, and with the former Brentford keeper now 35, he may have played his final career game between the sticks within the Black Cats’ promotion campaign.