League One

Sunderland: Phil Smith claims Thorben Hoffmann arrival causes Anthony Patterson ‘dilemma’

|
Image for Sunderland: Phil Smith claims Thorben Hoffmann arrival causes Anthony Patterson ‘dilemma’

Journalist Phil Smith has claimed the arrival of goalkeeper Thorben Hoffmann has left Sunderland with a ‘dilemma’ regarding Anthony Patterson.

On transfer deadline day, the Black Cats announced they had signed the German shot-stopper from Bayern Munich on a season-long loan.

With the 22-year-old coming in, questions are now being asked about the immediate futures of alternative goalkeeping options of Anthony Patterson and Lee Burge.

While talking on The Roar Podcast, Smith claimed that 21-year-old Patterson may be better served going out on loan, though he could also benefit from staying at the club.

He explained his thoughts, saying: “Obviously, he’s very early on his development and Hoffman has a lot more senior football under his belt, even if it is in the Bayern Munich second side. 

“So I think they now have a bit of a dilemma, if you like, with Patterson, whereby they obviously have to make a decision whether they think his development is best served by maybe going on a National League loan, or by staying with the first group every day, so he can keep learning that philosophy, so he can get further embedded in it.”

TIF Thoughts on Sunderland’s goalkeepers… 

Having enjoyed spells at Hertha Berlin, RB Leipzig, and Bayern Munich, Hoffmann certainly arrived with the kind of quality to push himself straight into the first team.

Meanwhile, Burge recorded an impressive 18 league clean sheets in the 2020-21 season, which earned him a place in the EFL League One Team of the Year.

With that kind of competition, it does look as though Patterson’s chances will be limited. At such a young age, however, the options of either going on loan or staying at the club and learning both seem potentially beneficial. 

Share this article