Sunderland open Lutsharel Geertruida talks as Bertrand Traoré among exits on retained list | OneFootball

Sunderland have begun talks with Lutsharel Geertruida after publishing their retained list, which confirms Dan Neil, Dennis Cirkin, Bertrand Traoré and Niall Huggins will depart.

According to Sunderland Echo, discussions over a permanent deal continue with the RB Leipzig loanee, with Sunderland holding an option to buy that also needs the 25-year-old’s approval.

The defender arrived with an Eredivisie title at Feyenoord and senior Netherlands caps, while Liverpool showed interest in January 2025 before his move to RB Leipzig.

He finished strongly as Sunderland took seventh and a Europa League place, then earned another Netherlands call-up.

Neil leaves after 200-plus appearances, helping win promotion from League One and later captaining the return to the top flight. Cirkin departs after five years and 120-plus games. Traoré exits after one season, and Huggins, signed from Leeds United in 2021, scored a standout Watford strike in 2023-24 that won Goal of the Season.

At under-21 level, nine players, including Oliver Bainbridge, Marshall Burke and Dan Cameron, will depart, with scholars Ivan Struk and George Bell also leaving. A youth trio are expected to move on but remain listed so Sunderland can protect value via a small fee or a sell-on clause. Professional terms have been offered to eight youngsters, including Finn Geragusian and Liam Hunt, as preparations continue for Europe under Régis Le Bris.

Source: Sunderland Echo