A big development has emerged on Sunderland and their plans to secure the future of one of their key players…
What’s the talk?
According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, the Black Cats are planning to offer central midfielder Corry Evans a contract extension in the coming weeks.
His current deal is due to expire in the summer and Kristjaan Speakman is now looking to strike an agreement with the 32-year-old to extend his stay at the Stadium of Light.
The former Blackburn Rovers man is currently sidelined until the end of the 2022/23 campaign with a knee injury but this has not stopped the club from wanting to retain his services.
Big boost for the gaffer
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray should be left delighted by this news as keeping hold of Evans would come as a big boost for him heading into the 2023/24 season.
His current contract situation means that he would become a free agent heading into the summer transfer window and the club would not receive any compensation for losing him, which is why pinning him to a new deal as quickly as possible will be key to retaining his services.
Does Corry Evans deserve a new deal?
At the time of the gem’s injury blow, the Black Cats boss said: “He’s got a tough period coming trying to do the work that’s required to strengthen every part of his body again.
“My feelings are with Corry and he’s a huge loss to our football team because of the balance he brings.”
These comments highlight how highly the head coach rates the midfielder, who he has managed for a whopping 124 matches between his time at Sunderland and Blackburn.
The 32-year-old started 22 matches in the Championship in the first half of the campaign, playing 24 times in total, and this aligns with that as it shows that Mowbray trusts Evans to be a reliable performer in the middle of the park at that level.
In those 24 appearances, the Northern Irish battler made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game and won 54% of his individual battles in midfield. This shows that the gem is capable of regularly winning the ball back for his side and does not allow opposition players to get the better of him the majority of the time.
His position as the captain of the club also suggests that the midfielder provides leadership qualities on and off the pitch, which is another reason why Mowbray should be delighted by Sunderland’s efforts to extend the veteran’s contract.
