Vito Mannone’s comments may be music to the ears of Sunderland

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Sunderland have missed out on a number of goalkeeping targets but Vito Mannone may be remaining at the Stadium of Light after all.

If you are going to concede eight goals in one of the worst goalkeeping displays in Premier League history, you should prepare for your reputation to take a bit of a hit. And it is fair to say Vito Mannone has never really recovered from Sunderland’s humiliating 8-0 defeat at Southampton in October 2014.

Yet, it is unfair to judge the Italian on one 90-minute nightmare on the South Coast. After all, Mannone was one of the Premier League’s most reliable custodians in the 2013/14 season, winning Sunderland’s Player of the Year award to boot.

Vito Mannone initially looked an excellent aquisition when arriving from Arsenal

Therefore, with the Black Cats on the lookout for a goalkeeper to fill the void created by Jordan Pickford’s move to Everton this summer, perhaps the Italian deserves a chance to stake his claim.

A return to his homeland appeared inevitable but, according to The Chronicle, it is far from certain that Mannone will be following Pickford out of Wearside this summer.

“I am actually focusing on what I am doing every day, that is my first aim,” Mannone said when discussing the prospect of featuring in the opening game of the Championship season against Derby County on 4 August .

“To be honest, I haven’t had a proper chat with no one – with the manager – so we wait and see and I just focus on my job which is getting ready for the first game.”

Perfect solution?

Mannone’s comments could hardly have come at a better time. Sunderland have been linked with whole host of goalkeepers in recent weeks but, so far, the club have been unable to replace Pickford.

Jordan Pickford is now football’s third most expensive goalkeeper

Sam Johnstone is set to join Aston Villa on a season-long loan, as reported by the Daily Mail, while the Express and Star claim John Ruddy turned the Black Cats down to join Wolves.

And despite Sky Sports reporting Sunderland’s interest, Eldin Jakupovic remains at Hull City.

Although with the debt-ridden club strapped for cash and the pool of potential targets getting smaller, news that Mannone could stay after all may be a welcome relief to all at the Stadium of Light.