Phillips ‘very surprised’ by Wyke update after Sunderland talks
Sunderland striker Charlie Wyke is almost certain to quit the club next month, according to Kevin Phillips.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Black Cats hero is fearful about the future of Wyke who scored 30 goals in 53 appearances during the 2020/21 campaign.
This site revealed on Friday that there is a growing expectation among Sunderland chiefs that the 28-year-old will leave when his contract expires on June 30, despite talks over fresh terms.
“I’d be surprised if Wyke is at the football club next season,” Phillips told Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs.
“I think there will be some clubs who probably will offer him something. I think I read some negative quotes from him this week about the game so maybe that is an indication that he has already been offered something or agent talk.
“I would be very surprised if the club don’t talk to him and try to make him an offer because you need players to get 20-30 goals to get you out of that league and he has shown that he can do it.
“But like I said, I would be very surprised if he is there next season.”
Despite Wyke’s goalscoring feats that took him to second in the League One charts, behind only Peterborough United’s Jonson Clarke Harris, the Wearside club failed in their promotion mission, missing out on the automatic spots by a mammoth 10 points.
They suffered further heartache in the play-offs, crashing out to Lincoln City in the semi-final after a 3-2 aggregate defeat.
In other news, Phillips has expressed his surprise that Sunderland have opted to let these two stars leave on free transfers.