Sunderland AFC facing Romaine Mundle exit threat as two clubs plot move | OneFootball

Mundle is being tracked by top European clubs following the Black Cats' promotion to the Premier League

Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle is being targeted by European sides PSV Eindhoven and OGC Nice, according to a new report, as the Black Cats plan to open contract talks with the 22-year-old after their promotion to the Premier League.

The Black Cats' outstanding Championship campaign under Regis Le Bris reached a brilliant conclusion in the play-off final against Sheffield United last weekend, as winger Tommy Watson struck in added-time to send his boyhood club back to the top-flight after eight long years away.

Le Bris' main focus this summer will be on bringing in fresh faces to bolster his starting eleven and squad depth in the hopes of being competitive next season, but the club will also need to make sure they hold on to most of their key men.

Young talents Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg have long been mooted with respective moves away from the Stadium of Light, but the Black Cats now seemingly face a fight to keep hold of star winger Mundle, who was key in their promotion campaign.

PSV and Nice enter Romaine Mundle transfer chase as Sunderland plan contract talks

London-born winger Mundle made the move to Wearside from Standard Liege last February in a deal worth around £2.5 million, after he had only spent six months in the Belgian Pro League following a June 2023 switch from Tottenham Hotspur.

He did not make much of an impact in his first half-season at the Stadium of Light, but sprung into life at the start of the recent campaign to become an important player under Le Bris as the Black Cats kept pace with the automatic promotion chasers.

The 22-year-old registered four goals and two assists in his first 15 league outings before suffering a hamstring injury in November that kept him sidelined for three months. He returned to action to help Sunderland consolidate their place in the top-six, and started at Wembley last weekend as they emerged victorious in the play-off final.

Now that their promotion has been confirmed, Sky Sports' Keith Downie has reported that the Black Cats are readying fresh contract terms for the 22-year-old as they aim to tie him down to a longer deal.

The same report claims that both PSV and Nice are keeping tabs on his progress ahead of a potential move in the upcoming transfer window, while unnamed Premier League clubs are also interested.

Sunderland need to keep Mundle in the Premier League - he is a promising winger who is only going to get better

Mundle's impact on Sunderland's performances throughout the last season cannot be understated - he was greatly missed in his time in the treatment room, despite Tommy Watson's emergence in his absence.

His impressive dribbling statistics and attacking prowess have made him one of the first names on Le Bris' team-sheet when he is fit, and that is likely set to remain the same in the Premier League even if the Black Cats look to bring in a new left-winger.

The 22-year-old's stature as a key player was highlighted even further at Wembley last weekend, as he made his first start since early April against the Blades in one of the club's biggest games in their history, despite being injured for the final few matches of the regular season and only coming back into the team from the bench in the semi-final second-leg against Coventry City.

Boss Le Bris hailed his performances as "absolutely brilliant" back in March, and Mundle already has the pedigree of coming through a Premier League academy from his time with Spurs, so he could well impress in the top-flight next season if given ample chances to shine.

The Black Cats will certainly not want to sell the 22-year-old this summer amid interest from domestic clubs and abroad, and so they must seek to agree a new extension to his contract as soon as possible, or risk having to let him leave before they return to the Premier League.