Cats offer keeper Ant new deal
Sunderland have offered promising young goalkeeper Anthony Patterson a new one-year deal, the Echo understands.
Patterson's current deal is set to expire later this month and though he is yet to put pen to paper, Sunderland will be hoping the Under-23 stopper commits his future to the club.
It comes amid growing uncertainty over the goalkeeping options for Phil Parkinson, with Jon McLaughlin's deal set to expire in the coming weeks with strong interest from Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Sunderland do have Lee Burge under contract for another campaign while there has been fresh reports linking the Black Cats with a summer move for free agent goalkeeper Ben Alnwick.
The 33-year-old, who came through the ranks at the Academy of Light, trained with the Black Cats earlier this year having left Bolton Wanderers.
The club's goalkeeping department is one of many uncertain areas after the League One season was officially ended last week, with the Black Cats facing a third season in the third tier.
Speaking in November, Patterson, 20, told the Echo he was enjoying training with McLaughlin and Burge and would be ready for the step-up on a more regular basis.
“Training with Jon McLaughlin and Lee Burge day in day out has been a very good experience for me,” said Patterson.
“They’re two very experienced goalkeepers and it’s been brilliant for me to learn from them. I try to take the best things from their game and use them in mine.
“They try to help me at any opportunity and they’re constantly giving me little tips on how I can improve.
“The first-team train with very high intensity so I know I have to be at my best every training session.”
Patterson has previously had a loan spell with Northern League side Sunderland RCA.
“Game time is very important for goalkeepers especially, so I felt the loan move would give me an opportunity to play week in week out, and it did that.
“I just need to get my head down now and keep working hard in training, and if an opportunity comes my way in the first-team, I’ll be ready.”