Sunderland may be forced into signing a new goalkeeper in the summer, following The Northern Echo’s report that Anthony Patterson is the subject of Premier League interest.
Patterson has played every minute of league action available this season, with the 22-year-old conceding just 38 goals in 34 games and keeping ten clean sheets in the process.
The report claims that Leicester City are readying a formal bid for the shot-stopper, with the Foxes apparently leading a queue of Premier League sides.
Should Patterson leave, the Black Cats will need to bring a replacement in for their no.1, and here’s three goalkeepers that Sunderland could sign on a free transfer in the summer…
Marcus Bettinelli
The former Fulham goalkeeper played a key role in the Cottagers’ 2017/18 play-off success, after becoming their first-choice keeper midway through the season. Bettinelli kept 14 clean sheets in 29 appearances, including one in the play-off final win.
Following limited game time after Fulham’s promotions, he played 42 times for Middlesbrough on loan in the 2020/21 season, before moving to Chelsea in 2021.
Now at 30, Bettinelli has the chance to rebuild his career as a first-choice stopper, and given his previous success in the Championship, he’d be a wise candidate to replace Patterson this summer.
Joel Robles
Robles has become a well-known name during his time in England that began back in 2013 at Wigan Athletic, he then moved to Everton where he stayed for five seasons, and is now with his third club in the Premier League with Leeds United.
The 32-year-old has played just three times for the Whites this season but his previous 65 appearances for Everton prove he can be a keeper of top-flight quality.
Before arriving at Leeds, he was La Liga side Real Betis’ first-choice keeper, playing 78 times in three seasons before moving to Elland Road. Robles would offer an experienced set of hands between the sticks for Tony Mowbray.
Wes Foderingham
An outside contender on this list is Sheffield United’s number one Foderingham who could well leave Bramall Lane, despite them in a great position to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
Foderingham arrived from Rangers 18 months ago and he’s since made 68 appearances for the Blades, but given at 32 years old he’s never featured in England’s top-flight before, and the vast finances promoted sides are boosted with, Foderingham could easily be left behind and replaced by a fresh summer arrival.
Should that be the case, then Foderingham and Sunderland make sense, with Mowbray’s side looking to emulate something similar to what the former Rangers goalkeeper has been involved with so far this season.
