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Sunderland are in a strong position in League One currently, sitting five points behind Portsmouth with two games in hand. However, things could get a lot more difficult for manager Jack Ross if he loses in-form youngsters Josh Maja and Lynden Gooch in January, with both of their contracts running out in the summer, and the Scotsman has hinted that it is agents who are holding up new deals.
What did he say?
“I’ve spoken frequently and consistently that I believe both players want to stay at the club, they are young enough to understand it is a great place to be and it’s a nice starting point.
“There are external factors which can slow down the process but I would be hopeful they will remain, and to know sooner rather than later.”
What did he really mean?
Both Gooch and Maja came through the Academy of Light system at Sunderland and have been with the club through the youth teams and then into the first team, and it is this that Ross clearly believes will keep them at the club beyond the January transfer window.
Both players are getting regular game time and are seriously impressing, so they are bound to attract interest given their contract situations. However, as Ross says, Sunderland is currently the perfect place for them both to develop.
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If this desire to stay is true though, the external factors that the Sunderland boss is referring to could be the agents of both players, who may be thinking that their clients could secure a big move if they delay signing on the dotted line at the Stadium of Light.
Huge Loss
Maja and Gooch have both been in exceptional form so far this year though and would be a huge loss for Sunderland. In fact, 19-year-old striker Maja is the Black Cats’ top scorer with 13 in all competitions, whilst the versatile Gooch is their top assist provider having made eight goals – as well as scoring six himself.
Both players have much to improve upon, with Maja’s all-round game especially raw despite his clear natural talent for putting the ball in the back of the net. Ross will be hoping though that their contract situations can be sorted and signed before the January transfer window so that he can focus on pushing for promotion to the Championship in the second half of the season.
