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Sunderland have had an excellent start to the season, but the Black Cats need to act fast to tie Josh Maja down to a new contract.
What’s the word?
Manchester City, Southampton and Tottenham were all reported to be interested in Maja last week, and Sunderland will be making the biggest mistake of their new era if they allow the youngster to leave on the cheap.
Maja’s contract expires at the end of this season, meaning the Black Cats are currently facing the prospect of losing him for free next summer.
Jack Ross and Stewart Donald have been absolute revelations since arriving on Wearside, but missing out on a potentially huge transfer fee for Maja is the exact type of thing Ellis Short would do.
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Mistakes of old?
Sunderland fans were rightfully frustrated by their old ownership, as not only was the club a shambles on the pitch it was abysmal off it. The transfer dealings under Short were shocking, leading Donald and Ross to almost completely overhaul the squad this summer.
The new leadership has done a fantastic job in such a sport space of time, but not giving Maja a new deal would be a fatal error.
The 19-year-old has scored nine goals in 12 League One games, and if he keeps developing at this rate he could potentially become one of the Championship’s top scorers as well, assuming the Black Cats get back up.
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Even if promotion isn’t secured, an extended deal would mean any exit for Maja would bring a hefty transfer fee, possibly allowing the club to bring in even more experienced League One players, something that was clearly a focus of this summer’s business.
At this point it doesn’t really matter how much money he wants, Sunderland simply must tie Maja down to a new deal before they fall right back into their old tricks.
Sunderland fans, let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
