Sunderland could get relegated to the Championship at the end of the season.
Former Aston Villa striker Tony Cascarino has suggested in The Times that Jermain Defoe and Jordan Pickford will leave Sunderland in the summer transfer window if they get relegated.
Sunderland are playing in the Premier League at the moment, but they could go down to the Championship at the end of the season.
The Black Cats are currently at the foot of the standings with just 20 points from 28 matches.
Cascarino has suggested that striker Defoe and goalkeeper Pickford could leave Sunderland at the end of the season if the team get relegated.
The former Chelsea striker has also predicted that Sunderland would finish mid-table in the Championship next season.
“Saturday’s match was a must win and the fact that they didn’t get the three points only cements my belief that they will go down,” Cascarino wrote in The Times.
“Players such as Jermain Defoe and young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will move on and I can’t see too much substance to make me think they will compete in the Championship — they would probably only be mid-table even with their current team.”
Defoe, who is 34 years of age, is one of the best strikers in the Premier League and is playing well for Sunderland this season.
The England international striker has scored 14 goals and created 13 chances in 27 league appearances so far this campaign.
Pickford, who is 23 years old, is one of the best young goalkeepers in England and has a lot of potential.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
