BBC Sport contributor Dave Azzopardi has said that Sunderland target Dion Sanderson could be up for sale this summer.
The Wolves defender spent last season out on loan with both Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers and will now return to the Premier League club.
However, the Black Cats have been tipped to make a move for Sanderson as he enjoyed a spell with the club in the 2020/21 campaign, playing 26 League One games.
Speaking about the rumours on the Talking Wolves podcast, Azzopardi said he feels as though the 22-year-old would be sold by Wolves if the money was right.
He explained: “Now in terms of players leaving the club as well, Dion Sanderson obviously had a couple of decent loan spells this season in the Championship.
“One was for Birmingham City, and then he was recalled by Wolves and ended up going out on loan to Queens Park Rangers, and now he’s going to be returning to Wolves in the summer. But both Championship clubs Sheffield United and Sunderland are said to be open and interested in signing Dion Sanderson.
“Now Wolves are also said to be open to either a permanent deal or a loan deal. I think if Wolves can get the right amount of money to help rebuild the squad this summer, they are going to be open to a permanent deal for the 22-year-old.”
Should Sunderland go in for Dion Sanderson this summer?
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TIF thoughts on Dion Sanderson and Sunderland…
Former Sunderland player Stephen Elliott certainly seemed to believe Sanderson was the real deal when he was on loan with the club in the past. Indeed, in February last year he took to Twitter to say: “Dion Sanderson has a huge future in the game. Best on loan player I’ve seen at the club since Jonny Evans. Wise behind his years on the pitch.”
With that in mind, it’s no shock to see that Alex Neil and co are linked with a move for the young defender who played 26 games in the Championship this season.
While it remains to be seen if the interest truly is there, if the Black Cats are chasing Sanderson they will be pleased to hear Azzopardi suggest a deal could be done with Wolves prepared to offload him and fund a few transfers of their own.