Black Cats looking for new keeper

SUNDERLAND will recruit another goalkeeper following Jon McLaughlin’s departure, Phil Parkinson has confirmed.

Scotland international McLaughlin turned down a new deal on Wearside, opting to sign a two-year deal with Scottish Premier League side Glasgow Rangers instead.

Parkinson had hoped McLaughlin would stay after establishing himself as the Black Cats’ number one over the last two seasons, but has wished him well at Ibrox.

And he says Sunderland are already looking at potential targets as they look to bring in another keeper to challenge former Coventry City man Lee Burge.

“We didn’t want to see Jon go, but it was his choice and we have to respect that,” Parkinson told Chronicle Live. “He wants to be Scotland’s first choice keeper and that made moving to Rangers a very attractive proposition.

“He leaves with our best wishes and I hope he is a success there.

“From our point of view, we knew that there was always a chance that Jon would leave this summer so we had already started thinking about possible targets just in case.

“We need to bring in another senior goalkeeper as cover and competition for Lee Burge and we will press on with that.”

Sunderland gave a new contract to young academy keeper Anthony Patterson, and Parkinson outlined the club’s plans for the 20-year-old.

He said: “He is obviously still young and what he needs now is to get some experience of senior football, so we will look to loan him out in the early part of next season.”