Le Bris sets Sunderland stance on Anthony Patterson January exit

Régis Le Bris has made it clear that Sunderland will only consider allowing Anthony Patterson to leave during the January transfer window if the club are able to secure a high-calibre replacement.

The Sunderland head coach acknowledged growing external interest in Patterson after the goalkeeper has found first-team minutes hard to come by this season, but warned that any decision will be shaped by squad balance rather than opportunity alone.

Patterson has made just one competitive appearance this season, featuring in the Carabao Cup, with Robin Roefs establishing himself as Sunderland’s first-choice goalkeeper. That lack of game time has not gone unnoticed elsewhere, with Championship side Southampton among the clubs believed to be monitoring the situation.

While Sunderland have generally shown a willingness to facilitate moves for players struggling for minutes, Le Bris stressed that Patterson’s situation is different given his importance as experienced cover.

“Yeah, I think the conversation is still open with the players who have had less game time,” Le Bris said. “They have their ambition and this ambition is often connected with the game time.”

He added that Patterson remains a key part of the squad despite his limited appearances.

“He knows that at the minute he's really important, even if he doesn't play. So if tomorrow we have an opportunity and he wants to leave, then we have a condition in front of this option: we need to find someone else at the level. It's not always easy to do that.”

Le Bris was candid about the difficulty of sourcing a reliable replacement midway through the season, particularly in a position as specialised as goalkeeper. Sunderland are wary of weakening their depth should Roefs suffer any injury issues, making Patterson’s presence a form of insurance.

The head coach suggested the club will not be rushed into decisions simply because interest exists.

“I don't think we'll rush this process, because we are in a good place,” he said. “It's really important to find the right player to fit with our system.”

Le Bris also offered insight into Sunderland’s overall transfer strategy, stressing that plans remain flexible and dependent on both availability and outgoings.

“When we say two or three spots in the squad [to recruit], that means that our focus is orientated on these positions,” he explained. “But we don't know if we will find the right targets.”

He added that the final outcome of the window could vary significantly.

“At the end, maybe we will have zero, or one, or two, or three. We don't know, because it's connected as well with the outgoing players.”

Attention will now turn to whether concrete offers emerge for Patterson as the January window progresses. Sunderland are expected to assess the goalkeeper market quietly while prioritising squad stability. Unless a suitable replacement can be identified quickly, the club are likely to resist any mid-season departure and revisit Patterson’s situation in the summer.

Should Sunderland cash in on Anthony Patterson if the right offer arrives — or is keeping experienced cover more important than giving him regular minutes elsewhere?