Sunderland fans are deeply divided over transfer target Tommy Doyle as ‘talented’ star set to leave Wolves

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Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle, who is set to depart the Premier League club in the summer window, has been heavily linked with a transfer to Sunderland.

As the summer transfer window ramps up, Sunderland have been linked with several potential signings, ahead of their Premier League return.

Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee became Sunderland’s first summer signing, after victory in the “most important game of his life”, saw his loan switch become permanent for a fee nearing £20m.

Aside from £20m Monaco defender Wilfried Singo, another name linked with Sunderland is Wolves midfielder Tommy, who has been labelled as the potential “Jobe Bellingham replacement” by reporter Alan Nixon.

Doyle has been on the Black Cats’ radar all season, and now with the latest revelations over his future, Sunderland fans have voiced their opinions on his increasingly likely move.

• READ MORE: After Jobe Bellingham joins Borussia Dortmund, Sunderland’s next order of business in summer window is obvious

Sunderland fans react as transfer target Tommy Doyle set to leave Wolves

Former Manchester City youngster Doyle was of interest to Sunderland in January, but a loan deal failed to materialise, and the 23-year-old finished the season at Wolves with just 3 Premier League starts to his name.

“Bellingham replacement” Doyle was set for crunch talks with Wolves boss Vitor Pereira this summer, and those have culminated in his future lying away from Molineux.

Team talk journalist Darren Witcoop said on X: “Sunderland showing interest in Tommy Doyle. Set to leave Wolves. Championship clubs also keen on the midfielder.”

In light of Doyle’s expected departure from Wolves, and with the midfielder a potential transfer target for Sunderland after the play-off final win, the Black Cats faithful have exhibited differing opinions regarding the potential move for Doyle.

In support of Doyle’s potential move to Sunderland, one fan said: “100%. Works hard, still young, a talent and has a good bit of PL experience to his name. For under £8m or so it’s a steal”.

Another agreed: “Seems right in the alley. Talented prospect who can use another chance in an environment suited for him”.

As another said: “Still young, has over 50 prem games under his belt, available for peanuts. Makes complete sense”.

On the contrary, a handful of fans wouldn’t be happy to see Doyle arrive at the Stadium of Light this summer.

One fan said: “Not the physical profile I would be looking at”, as another argued: “Can’t see him improving us much”.

Another Sunderland supporter posted: “We have about 15 contracted players not good enough for the Premier League that we are trying to offload. Why add another? We need proven quality not cheap gambles”.

According to Witcoop, Doyle is “up for grabs for as little as £3m”, despite having three years left to run on his current Wolves deal after falling out of favour under Pereira.

Despite Doyle being suited to the Black Cats’ youth-first footballing philosophy, which has been the source of Sunderland’s success this season, it is the Wolves boss’ comments on Doyle that fuel the skepticism over his potential switch.

• READ MORE: Winners and losers from a Tommy Doyle transfer to Sunderland include Dan Neil

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira’s comments on Tommy Doyle could put Sunderland off

Former Sheffield United loanee Doyle has played just 475 minutes of Premier League football this season, a significant reduction from his 1213 minutes in 23/24, after Pereira arrived at Molineux in December.

Via the Express and Star, Pereira said of Doyle in April: “Technically-speaking, he’s a very good player, but in my opinion he’s missing the physicality to face this league (Premier League),

“We are not a team to have 80 percent of possession, so he has problems. If we are a team that has the ball every time, doesn’t allow counter-attacks, and keeps the ball to dominate the opponent, this is the team for him.

“We need to run a lot, and he’s missing this physicality, especially when we play with two midfielders.

“With three midfielders, I believe he is a 10 with high quality. The last pass, shots, crosses – he has those skills.”

Pereira’s negative appraisal of Doyle’s “physicality” could put off Sunderland’s interest in the Englishman.

Under Regis Le Bris this season, Sunderland averaged just 49% possession in the Championship, the 12th-highest in the league.

Le Bris’ game model is centered around counter-attacking plays, hurting teams on transitions rather than dominating the ball.

Ball retention will be even harder to come by for the Black Cats next season, given the gulf in quality between the Championship and top flight.

Thus, placing more emphasis on physicality and out-of-possession work, which the Wolves boss believes are elements not best suited to Doyle.