One Sunderland man in particular looks nailed on to leave the club during the January transfer window, either on loan or permanently.
Sunderland have to manage who leaves the club in January, with a number of their players starting to attract serious transfer interest ahead of the New Year.
Names like Jobe Bellingham, Chris Rigg, and Dan Ballard have all been involved in transfer headlines of late, with the likes of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund looking at Bellingham.
January could prove to be a lucrative moth for the Black Cats. But there needs to be a balance with the Sunderland owners no doubt keen to ensure Regis Le Bris has the tools needed to maintain this promotion push.
One thing seems certain though, and that’s that Sunderland will look to move on some of the deadwood in their squad in January.
Striker Nazariy Rusyn, who joined Sunderland from Ukrainian outfit Zorya in a £2.5million deal in 2023, looks like one of the main candidates to leave.
Clubs lining up for Sunderland striker Nazariy Rusyn
Rusyn has been tipped to leave Sunderland in the New Year after failing to break into the starting XI under Le Bris.
He’s not started a single league game in the 2024/25 season, instead making just six substitute appearances with his last coming back in October.
Now, an emerging report from Ukrainian outlet Sport.ua has revealed that Ukrainian duo Metalist 1925 and LNZ Cherkasy are ready to make their move for Rusyn in the New Year.
But both these teams would prefer a loan deal for Rusyn rather than a permanent one, which may not appeal to Sunderland.
Interestingly, Rusyn has worked with the managers of both sides at different clubs earlier in his career, working with Metalist boss Patrick van Leeuwen at Zorya before he arrived at Sunderland.
Nick Barnes’ telling assessment of Nazariy Rusyn’s Sunderland future
Speaking earlier in December, BBC pundit Nick Barnes predicted a Sunderland exit for Rusyn in January.
Barnes also suggested that Sunderland might not get much for the 26-year-old should they sell him, despite Rusyn still being under contract until 2027.
Barnes said: “I think there’s every chance Rusyn will be on the move. They’re not going to get much. Whether it’s a loan or he moves permanently. I think Nazariy Rusyn is a player that will probably move in January.”
A return to Ukraine where he was previously in form could be ideal for Rusyn to get his career back on track.
It’s clearly not worked for Sunderland but he’ll have gained a lot of experience from his time at the Stadium of Light nonetheless.
Report: Sunderland ace could reunite with former manager in January as clubs line up for transfer deal
