Six players Sunderland risk losing if they fail to earn Premier League promotion, including loanee Enzo Le Fee

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Sunderland’s future hinges on their play-off campaign, as does the make-up of Regis Le Bris’ squad for next season, regardless of 2025/26 league status.

Sunderland’s 1-0 defeat against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday was their third loss on the spin after their Championship play-offs place was confirmed.

Not only are Regis Le Bris’ side battling for top flight status and Premier League riches, the Black Cats face a summer of being inundated with offers for some of their top young talents, who have been courting attention across the campaign.

For instance, newly-promoted Burnley have already put transfer plans in motion, as Sunderland’s uncertainty over the league status mirrors the worry over potential sales this summer.

Here, EFL Analysis discusses the five current Sunderland stars, and loanee, who the club run the risk of losing if they fail to earn Premier League promotion this season.

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Six players Sunderland risk losing if they fail to earn promotion

Trai Hume

Trai Hume has been one of Sunderland’s standout performers this season, notching nine goal contributions in 42 league outings, and cemented himself as one of the Championship’s best full-backs.

Player of the Season contender Hume has also captained Northern Ireland this season, with the 23-year-old’s stock rising on a game-to-game basis. Hume has made his Premier League ambitions clear already, telling the Telegraph last year: “I think I could play in the Premier League. You have to keep yourself at a high standard ,and you want to push yourself as much as you can.

“That’s the level I want to get to, but I’m happy enough at Sunderland and happy where I’m at and I’m really enjoying my football. If a move happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, I’m happy to play for Sunderland. 

“I let my agent deal with all that stuff, and until they come to Sunderland and offer money, I don’t pay too much attention to it.”

Hume’s performances have caught Fulham and Crystal Palace’s attention, and if Sunderland do decide to part ways with him this summer, they’d be certain to bank an impressive return on their £200k investment shelled out to Linfield in 2022.

Dennis Cirkin

Hume’s opposite-sided full-back, Dennis Cirkin, has also been a key component for the Black Cats’ play-off push.

Reports this season have indicated that a host of Premier League clubs are tracking the former Spurs youngster, and a left-back of his calibre and potential may be reticent to wait another year for top flight football.

Cirkin has made 34 outings in the Championship this term – with five goal contributions – despite injury issues limiting his gametime, and he is expected to return before the end of the regular season.

Dan Neil

Academy of Light graduate turned first-team skipper Dan Neil has also been attracting attention from some of Europe’s top leagues.

Everton have been said to be interested in the holding-midfielder, as well as AS Roma, who have witnessed his performances when keeping tabs on loanee Enzo Le Fee’s season. 23-year-old Neil has been a mainstay in Le Bris’ side this season, starting 42 times in the league, cementing himself as one of the best young defensive-minded midfielders in the second tier.

Both Cirkin and Neil’s current Sunderland contracts are set to expire in the summer of 2026, and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has revealed that the club have held talks with the duo, and will revisit the negotiations this summer after the season curtails.

Via the Northern Echo, Speakman said earlier this year: “We’ve had those conversations with the guys. There’s no question over Dennis or Dan’s commitment to Sunderland.

“But I don’t think at the minute, it’s the right moment to be getting into too much of a conversation with them. That’s really just down to the short time period we’ve got to the summer. We’ve got so much to achieve, and we need to stay focused.”

Youngster Nectarios Triantis has been touted as Neil’s successor, following his impressive season at Hibernian, but the Black Cats will be desperate to retain their skipper past next summer.

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Chris Rigg

17-year-old Chris Rigg’s remarkable rise continues this season and his performances have caught the attention of Europe’s elite clubs.

Rigg has featured 40 times this season, scoring four goals with one assist, playing as an advanced central-midfielder in the heart of Le Bris’ side. Not only has Rigg been one of the best Championship’s best players this season, he has also won games for England Under-19s on the international stage, raising his stock and standing even further.

TBR Football recently revealed that Borussia Dortmund are ready to rival Manchester United and Arsenal for Rigg’s signature. With his current Sunderland contract expiring in 2027, if the Black Cats fail to go up this season, then the advances from top European clubs could be too hard to swerve this summer.

Jobe Bellingham

Borussia Dortmund have been tracking Jobe Bellingham this season as well as Rigg, after his stellar performances in the Black Cats’ engine room.

Bellingham has notched seven goal contributions in the 38 outings, solidifying himself as one of the Championship’s best all-round midfielders, and will certainly be on England boss Thomas Tuchel’s radar.

The former Birmingham City youngster has been imperative to Sunderland this season, and the Wearside hierarchy have tied him down until the summer of 2028, but with his potential and pedigree on the rise they will surely be inundated with tempting offers for the 19-year-old this summer.

Enzo Le Fee

Frenchman Le Fee arrived on loan to Sunderland in January from Italian giants Roma with an obligation to buy clause inserted into his contract should the Black Cats earn promotion.

Le Fee’s stint on Wearside has been blighted by injuries, limiting the creative midfielder to only 9 starts since January. His stardusted performance in the 3-2 away win at Middlesbrough was a shining example of the spark Le Fee possesses, and Le Bris will be hoping he can be the one to stop Sunderland’s goal drought.

Le Fee’s immediate future, as well as that of his aforementioned teammates, could hinge on whether Sunderland earn promotion to the Premier League this season or fail in the play-offs.

The Black Cats’ best bargaining chip to retain some of their top talent this summer could be decided in the season-defining play-off fixtures looming in May.

Considering Sunderland’s torrid history in the play-offs, it could certainly be a busy summer ahead for the Wearside transfer department.