Manchester United close in on Black Cats academy prospect
sign talented goalkeeper Adam Richardson to professionaltermsearlierthisear,butthe departure of Hugill is a significant blow.
Speaking the Echo earlier this year, academy manager Paul Reid insisted the club was doing ‘everything they can’ to prevent the departures.
“We’ve had conversations with the parents to map out how we see their pathway over thenextfiveyears,offeredprofessional contracts as soon as we’re able that are very competitive for where we are right now,” he said.
“It’s certainly not a case of actively trying to lose players, it’stheexactopposite.It’saconstant challenge.
“Again,it’saconsequenceof wheretheclubhasfounditself.
“We’ve got strategies in place to keep our high-potential players. Some have been receptivetothat,somehaven’t.
“It’s certainly not a case of us sitting waiting for offers to comein,orusactivelytryingto seek these offers.
“At no point am I able to tie thoseplayersdowntoaprofessional contract.
“Wehavealertsandspreadsheets to say at what point is the earliest time to offer these playersprofessionalcontracts, we’vedonethat,soanyonewho leaves this club, I’m confident we can say we’ve done everything we can.
“We try and create an environment where they want to stay, but sometimes they want to take that opportunity.”
Reid is set to oversee a significant overhaul of the club’s U18 and U23 sides in the comingmonths.Bothsideshaveendureddifficultseasons,unable to win a game in their respective leagues.
The Premier League brought an early end to the campaign this week in light of the COVID-19 crisis, to give clubs and players ‘clarity’ ahead of any new campaign.
Sunderland have already told the majority of their U18 squad that they will not be retained, but hoped that Hugill would stay.