Football League World
·12. November 2024
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·12. November 2024
FLW's Sunderland fan pundit has given his view on Cirkin's links with their promotion rival Leeds
This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...
Leeds United are reportedly interested in Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin. If he was to depart, what sort of price-tag would Sunderland need to consider?
Dennis Cirkin has been a top performer at the Stadium of Light for a few years and is now in his fourth season with the Mackems.
The Sunday Mirror (via the Sunderland Echo) are suggesting that Leeds Unured are interested in their fellow promotion rival's player, but will certainly face a tough test to acquire his services.
It comes as no surprise that there is interest in Cirkin, but surely the Black Cats will steer as far away as possible from selling their left-back to Leeds.
Tottenham let go of the 22-year-old in 2021 for the Mackems to snap him up, and included a £6 million buy-back clause which expired last summer.
Could we see the likes of Tottenham or another Premier League club approach Cirkin? Or will Leeds put in a sizeable bid for Sunderland to accept with no choice?
FLW's Sunderland fan pundit, Jay Woodhead, has given his view on one of the standout left-backs so far this season, and if he should be sold to a division rival with the price-tag taken into account as well.
"I can't see Cirkin leaving to be fair, especially to a league rival like Leeds. At the end of the day, if we were wanting to sell Cirkin, it would be to a Premier League club.
"The price-tag I would be looking at is nothing less than £20m, because he's a very, very good left-back, and he's only young as well.
"He had lots of potential when he was at Tottenham as well, obviously Tottenham released him, and we capitalised on that.
"I wouldn't want anything less than £20m for Cirkin and I don't think we'd sell him to a rival in Leeds, as I say, the Premier League, possibly, but definitely not another Championship club."
The young left-back is still contracted with the Mackemsuntil 2026, suggesting the ball is really in Sunderland's court.
It would be silly to let go of one of the most in-form defenders in the league, let alone to a league rival following the same ambition to strengthen their chances of promotion.
He has proven his worth to Sunderland's side and fit's like a glove in Regis Le Bris' set-up, looking irreplaceable at left-back.
It would be difficult for Sunderland to find someone else to replicate what Cirkin gives to the Black Cats, and bare in mind the fact he also ticks the box for Kristjaan Speakman's policy at the club. A young and upcoming talent.
If a Premier League side approached Sunderland with a reasonable bid in the summer, it should potentially be considered, but for now, Cirkin should stay put.
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