Sunderland trio set for potential exits ahead of transfer deadline

Sunderland players Arbenit Xhemajli, Tyrese Dyce and Benjamin Kimpioka are set to be allowed to depart the Stadium of Light on loan for the remainder of the 2021-22 season, according to the Echo.

The Black Cats are set to make some late transfer window additions to their first-team squad with both Jack Clarke and Ali Koiki tipped to arrive on Wearside in the coming days to add to the signings of Patrick Roberts, Danny Batth and Trai Hume.

They have pushed others down the pecking order though and the arrival of Batth in particular means that it’s unlikely that defender Xhemajli will see game-time this season.

The 23-year-old Kosovan made his return earlier this season from a long-term knee injury for the under-23 squad and has been on the bench for the last four League One matches.

Development squad manager Mike Dodds though has suggested that the best course of action in the short-term would be for Xhemajli to go out and get games elsewhere, with his chances of third tier action for the Black Cats this season looking slim.

Dyce and Kimpioka meanwhile are regulars for the under-23’s and are two others who could also be set for a departure.

Left-sided player Dyce has scored five goals in the Premier League 2 competition this season whilst Kimpioka scored his first league goal for the Black Cats last month in the 5-0 drubbing of Sheffield Wednesday.

The Verdict

If Sunderland do get some more new faces in before the end of the transfer window then their squad could start to become slightly bloated.

They’ve got more than enough defenders to cope with for a start so letting Xhemajli go and get some regular football would be a good thing – he spent a year out with a knee problem and he will take time to get back to his best.

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