Sunderland loanee’s agent reveals next step for star after impressive season, he won’t be a ‘bit-part player’

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Transfer update for Sunderland loanee after breakout campaign as player’s agent reveals ambition for youngster running the show for side this season.

Sunderland have boasted one of the Championship’s best central-midfield ranks this season during their push for Premier League promotion under Regis Le Bris.

Academy graduate turned captain Dan Neil is wanted by Roma and Everton following his impressive campaign.

Teenage talismen Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg have been outstanding, with some of Europe’s elite tracking the Black Cats duo, with Premier League clubs battling for both their signatures.

Away from Wearside, Sunderland loanee Nectarios Triantis has been catching attention for his stellar season out on loan, and the central-midfielder’s agent has revealed what the midfielder’s next steps are after his remarkable rise this term.

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Transfer update for Sunderland loanee as agent reveals next steps

Triantis arrived at Sunderland from Central Coast Mariners in 2023 and joined Hibs on loan last season, where he endured a difficult time, before returning this term to enjoy the best season of his career to date.

On loan north of the border, Triantis has been in stellar form at Hibs throughout the campaign, notching eight goal contributions in 29 starts from central-midfield as David Gray’s side third behind Rangers and leaders Celtic.

The 21-year-old has been a pivotal component for Gray, cementing himself as one of the best young players in the Scottish Premier League this season, featuring most recently in Hibs’ 4-0 hammering of Dundee in another dominant display from the Australian international.

Former footballer Jem Karacan, who now represents Triantis, has outlined the number one priority for the Black Cats midfielder next season, and has revealed there is growing interest in the youngster after his breakout campaign.

Via the Row Z FC podcast, Karacan said: “Nectar (Triantis) has had a great season. He’s worked hard, he’s knuckled down, and he’s turned opinion from certain fans.

“People are starting to talk about him but Nectar is very grounded. He just wants to enjoy his football, and with the season he’s had, yeah, there’s going to be interest.”

With Triantis hoping to make the Australian World Cup squad, his agent also admitted that this will shape their thinking over the combative midfielder’s immediate future, as Triantis won’t return to Sunderland or move to another club to be a “bit-part player” as he hunts his Socceroos “dream”.

“It’s also about, what does Nectar want?” Karacan added. “Ultimately, we’re hoping that Australia get to the World Cup. That changes things. He has to play next year.

“We can’t afford for him to go to a club and be a bit-part player. He’s experienced a season of being one of the main men. He needs to repeat that.

“We need to make sure that he gets to a club or if he stays at Sunderland, that there are going to be opportunities to play. That’s our main focus, making sure he goes to a team where he’s going to feel an important part of it.”

Triantis arrived at Sunderland as a recognised centre-back, but has formed into one of the best all-round midfielders the Scottish top flight has seen this season, and the ‘Aussie Rodri’ could become that “crucial “important” component of Le Bris’ squad.

Not only that, but the Australian could also save the Black Cats’ owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus millions this summer.

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Nectarios Triantis could save Sunderland millions this summer

Triantis’ versatility and prowess both in and out of possession has earned lofty praise from Hibs boss Gray, who would be more than happy to see the 21-year-old return to Leith next season.

After starting the season with a spate of ill-discipline – with a straight red in a defeat to Motherwell – Triantis has matured both technically and with his temperament across the campaign.

Gray said earlier this season: “His red card, it probably affected him slightly, but I think he’s been much more like himself, much more dominating in the middle of the pitch. So he’s learnt from that, which is great.”

He also recently told the Scotsman: “He’s got really good attributes to be a really good number six, and he’s demonstrating that. He’s getting better all the time. Clearly he’s contracted to Sunderland, so we’ll see where that situation goes.”

With Triantis buoyed by his breakout season, he will be hoping to be in contention for a regular spot under Le Bris next season, but that could all hinge on Sunderland’s play-off campaign.

If the Black Cats do earn promotion, Triantis has proven his salt in the Scottish Premier League, and will back himself to do so in the Premier League next term. If Sunderland fail in their quest for Championship play-offs glory, transfer vultures will be circling for the aforementioned midfield trio of Bellingham, Rigg, and Neil for which eight-figure fees could be too hard to swerve.

Given Triantis’ rate of development, quality and versatility, he could save Sunderland millions in finding a suitable replacement for either of those three talents. All the more impressive from a Black Cats perspective, considering they shelled out only £300k to the A-League outfit for his services less than two years ago.