Phillips verdict on priority Sunderland signing after McFadzean update
Sunderland must sign a new left-back this summer, according to Kevin Phillips.
The Stadium of Light legend, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, has insisted that moves must be made to cover the impending departures of Callum McFadzean and Jake Vokins.
McFadzean’s contract expires next month and the Black Cats have announced on their club website that the 27-year-old has not been offered new terms, while Vokins heads back to parent club Southampton after his loan spell.
Academy graduate Denver Hume started four of the last six games at left-back, but he is also out of contract in June.
However, Sunderland have announced that the 22-year-old will be offered a new deal to extend his 12-year association with the club.
When asked by Football Insider’s Dylan Childs if a left-back is a priority signing for Sunderland this summer, Phillips said: “Of course, yeah.
“They’re going to need a natural left-back, you can’t rely on Luke O’Nien to be playing left-back and centre half next season.
“I think they need to find players that are suitable for their own position and maybe Luke can be used somewhere else in his rightful position.”
McFadzean arrived on Wearside last October and went on to make 33 appearances for the club, while 21-year-old Vokins played just four times after joining on a temporary deal in January.
Sunderland finished fourth in the 2020/21 League One table but lost 3-2 on aggregate to Lincoln City in the play-off semi-final, ensuring a fourth successive season in the English third-tier.
In other news, Phillips is ‘Surprised’ that Sunderland have opted to let these two stars leave the club.