Bali Mumba is not the only Sunderland youngster heading for the exit with the Echo pointing out that Ruben Sammut are also set to depart on July 1.
Black Cats may be associated with good fortune but it feels like years since this Wearside giant caught a lucky break.
When the 2019/20 League One season was curtailed last month, Sunderland were denied a place in the play-offs – despite sitting just three points adrift of the automatic promotion positions.
As a result, any hopes Phil Parkinson had of hanging onto some of his key players, including goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, homegrown hero Duncan Watmore and exciting youngster Mumba, appear to have gone up in smoke.
The latter is expected to join Norwich City And, by this time next month, Sunderland’s training ground may feel eerily quiet.
As the Echo points out, Jack Diamond, Jake Hackett and Cole Kiernan are all set to stay but they are expected to be outnumbered by those departing via the back door.
Sammut, a former Chelsea midfielder who has impressed with his performances at U23 level, has updated his LinkedIn page to reflect his new-found ‘free-agent’ status.
Sammut only joined the Black Cats last year and was expected to force his way into the first-team squad eventually.
This comes just a day after it emerged that Sunderland hopes of signing Burnley striker Will Harris had hit the buffers, with talks placed on ice despite a verbal agreement having been reached earlier this year (Echo).
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