Sunderland AFC: Eliezer Mayenda attracting Premier League transfer interest | OneFootball

The Spanish forward is catching the attention of top flight clubs in his breakout Black Cats season

Sunderland are prepared for interest in starlets such as Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg this coming summer, but another player that is being watched is Eliezer Mayenda.

The 19-year-old Spaniard was Sunderland's match-winner last time out against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough when stepping in for Wilson Isidor, and it appears his recent showings are not going unnoticed.

Eliezer Mayenda attracting Premier League interest after breakthrough Sunderland season

According to a report from Spanish publication Hoy Aragón, Mayenda is now attracting interest from not only Premier League clubs, but top flight sides from overseas too.

Sunderland landed the services of Mayenda in the summer of 2023, paying French outfit Sochaux just over €1 million for his services, as per L'Equipe's report.

At the time, Mayenda had played just 15 times at French second tier level, with his impact for the Black Cats in his debut season being limited - he even spent the second half of the campaign in Scotland on loan at Hibernian.

The talented teenager has really come into his own in 2024-25 though, scoring six times in the Championship - four of those coming against Sheffield Wednesday - and also notching five assists, whilst also at times having to play out of position out wide or in an attacking midfield role thanks to the presence of French hot-shot Isidor.

The Premier League clubs keeping tabs on Mayenda are so far unnamed, but his two-goal salvo at Hillsborough last week will have only impressed any onlookers that are considering a move this coming summer.

Eliezer Mayenda may not be ready for Premier League football right now

Should Regis Le Bris stick with a 4-2-3-1 system for Sunderland going forward, Mayenda is going to find it difficult to land starts, such is the talent that Wilson Isidor possesses.

Given a rare chance to shine though last week, Mayenda grasped the opportunity with both hands, showing that if needed, he has developed the characteristics that could make a top centre-forward in the future.

It's easy to forget that Mayenda is still only 19 years of age though, and this is his real breakout season in professional football, so he needs to be given time to further develop before too much expectation is put on his shoulders.