James Copley’s Sunderland notebook: Fake transfer chaos, a shock retirement and the youngster who stepped up | OneFootball

A bogus transfer link, an academy breakthrough and a surprise retirement shape this week’s Sunderland notebook.

French outlet Foot Mercato reported that Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall, a highly rated Sweden international, had chosen to join Sunderland, citing The Athletic. In reality, no such story existed and the update originated from a fake account imitating David Ornstein.

The fabrication spread as others echoed the claim. Sunderland sources quickly quashed it. The episode underlined the need to check verified channels before amplifying a story.

At 18, Charlie Dinsdale had been largely with the under-18s while peers edged towards the under-21s and first team. He responded by finding another level, helped by significant physical development over the past six to eight months and a sharper mindset.

He stepped into the under-21s, earned a Premier League 2 Player of the Month nomination for March and signed his first professional contract. His byline work created an assist for Tom Proctor against York City, another step in pre-season. World Cup absences opened doors, and he took one.

By contrast, former Sunderland goalkeeper Kelechi Chibueze has retired after leaving the club and failing to find a serious opportunity elsewhere. Previously with Chelsea and Leicester City, he had also been around Régis Le Bris’s first-team squad on occasions.

Their paths show how quickly academy careers can pivot. Chibueze now works for software company CrowdStrike in London and uses TikTok and other platforms to tell his story. We hope to speak to him soon, which could offer useful insight if it comes together.

Source: Sunderland Echo