Sources: Sunderland star O'Nien wanted by Luton, Millwall, Middlesbrough and Preston amid contract update

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on:

26 May 2021, 5:52 am

Sunderland star Luke O'Nien is being chased by Championship quartet Preston North End, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Luton Town, Football Insider understands.

O'Nien is out of contract next month and Sunderland have yet to tie him to an extension.

A source told Football Insider that the four clubs are keen to exploit the 26-year-old's availability and land him on a free transfer.

Sunderland released their retained list for the 2021-22 season on Monday, confirming that O'Nien will be offered a new deal.

However, the Black Cats' failure to win promotion makes them vulnerable to losing the famously versatile player.

O'Nien ended 2020-21 at centre-back and also slotted in at right-back, central midfield and right midfield at various times throughout the campaign.

He featured 38 times for the north east giants as they finished 4th in the third-tier, slipping away from the automatic promotion spots in the closing throes of the campaign.

He also started both legs of Sunderland's 3-2 aggregate defeat to Lincoln City in the play-off semi-finals.

O'Nien signed from Wycombe in 2018 for an undisclosed fee and quickly became a terrace favourite.

Part of the Sunderland side which won the EFL trophy in March, O'Nein's work rate and consistency have won plaudits in his three seasons at Sunderland.