Championship basement boys Sunderland might be playing League One football next season and want to keep Maja and Asoro at the Stadium of Light.
With League One football looking more and more likely next season, Sunderland simply must do everything they can to ensure the club’s most exciting young prospects do not slip through their grasp.
After all, the Black Cats do not have the funds to bring in new signings, as manager Chris Coleman discovered in January, so they must make full use of the talent already at the club’s disposal, meaning Josh Maja (below), Joel Asoro, Lynden Gooch, Ethan Robson and George Honeyman will be absolutely essential.
Fortunately, Sunderland appear to have realised that.
Coleman has confirmed on Thursday that the club are hoping to tie Asoro and Maja down to long-term deals. As it stands, the young duo would be free to leave in the summer of 2019 and there will be no shortage of interest in two players who have shone among the wreckage.
“Obviously, Joel and Josh, we see their future as being here and the best thing for them is to stay with us and progress,” said Coleman in quotes reported by The Chronicle. “We want to give both players long term deals, and I think both of them want to stay and play.”
Maja and Asoro have scored just three league goals between them this season but, at 19 and 18 respectively, have potential by the bucketload and should be at the forefront of next season’s daunting promotion push should relegation become a reality.
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