Aji Alese has signed a new contract to stay with Sunderland until the end of the 2026/27 season.
The 23-year-old moved to Wearside from West Ham United in the summer of 2022 and has made a total of 27 appearances.
Alese has been limited to just three appearances for the Black Cats this term, however, because of injury.
How happy are you to have the defender commit to the club, and how do you rate Alese? Have your say here.
Image source, Getty ImagesJack Clarke's agent says Sunderland's commitment to their wage structure could mean the winger won't sign a new contract at the club.
In an interview with freebets.com, external, Ian Harte said: "Not many people know this but in Jack’s contract, he had to play a few games at the start of this season to then get offered a new deal.
"There was a deal that was offered but it wasn’t good enough.
“We were happy to sign a deal but that was earlier on in the summertime and it hasn’t been revisited.
“They have a [wage] structure. Lots of clubs have that. I don’t think [Sunderland] want to break any structure for any football player so I can’t see it happening, no.”
Clarke has two years left on his current contract and so there is time for things to change, but the club also could be looking to cash-in while there is time left on the deal.
The 23-year-old has attracted attention from multiple Premier League clubs and Italian side Lazio made bids for him in January.
What do you think of Harte's comments? Should Sunderland break the wage structure? Run down the deal and lose value? Or cash-in on Clarke and reinvest in new players? Have your say here.
We asked whether you will be renewing your Sunderland season card. Here are some of your comments:
Paul: I'm red and white through and through and will follow them to the very lowest, I think that explains why every true supporter will follow!
Cheshire Mackem: Renew my season ticket? YES ABSOLUTELY. Don't be put off by a temporary drop off in form. Sunderland 'til I die.
Trevit: No. We are a laughing stock. More managers over the last decade than should have been. Awful ownership. Nothing has been right since the days of Peter Reid,Phillips and Quinn. There is something inherently wrong deep within the club which needs to be rooted out. The fiasco of the derby game was the last straw for many.
Stephen: The club seem to think every supporter has a smart phone and is bullying it's season ticket holders into digital tickets. Personally I believe at least 10,000 ticket holders will not renew and scraping digital tickets may make more ticket holders renew.
Stuart: Of course I’ll be renewing my ticket. In fact it’s already renewed. I’m a Sunderland supporter first and foremost and will be going to support my team no matter what.
Mark: I’ll be renewing. The match day experience isn’t just about the football. With work commitments it’s probably the only opportunity to get together with family and friends to socialise and hopefully watch some exciting football.
Bob: Already have done. You either get Sunderland or you don't. Once bitten, never smitten.
Colin: No, I won't be renewing my season card as I have better things to spend my money on.
Edward: Yes, I have already purchased my season ticket simply because this is my club even though I have serious issues with owner and sporting director both with vision and direction for this great club.
Gary: Yes, already done. Ha'way the lads.
Sunderland have released their season cards for the 2024/25 campaign, but will fans renew?
It has been a turbulent few months on Wearside with controversial head coach changes, transfer frustrations and all that surrounded the FA Cup derby fixture with Newcastle.
The club have, however, announced plans to invest millions into a revamp of the Stadium of Light. As it stands, there are a number of talented players to make an exciting team when everyone is fit - not to mention the undeniable and unrivalled passion and commitment of Black Cats supporters to their football team.
Will you be renewing your season card and if so, why? Have your say here.
Nick Barnes has completed another of his legendary commentary notes for Sunderland v QPR.
Barnesy will be joined by former Black Cats captain Gary Bennett for commentary of the Championship clash on BBC Radio Newcastle via FM, DAB and Freeview.
Build-up starts on Saturday from 14:00 GMT.
Mike Dodds' press conference started with a call for positivity following the vast amount of bad news coming out of the Stadium of Light recently.
BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes opened the questions up with, "Mike, since you left your office and came down here to talk to us, anymore bad news?"
Dodds replied, "There's no injuries, no.
"I've been at the club now, two years? I've never experienced the, kind of... I won't say bad news. I want to try and put a different spin on it. The injury list and the things that have come up, I have never experienced that in the two and a half years I've been here.
"As I keep saying to everyone, it is what it is. I'm not going to cry about it. I'm going to get on with it. I know what I've got to work with and I'll continue to work as hard as I can with what I've got."
Sunderland are looking to complete a league double over Queens Park Rangers for the first time since the 2011-12 season under Martin O’Neill.
Queens Park Rangers are unbeaten across their last four away league games against Sunderland (W1 D3) with this fixture last season ending 2-2 after goalkeeper Seny Dieng netted a stoppage time equaliser.
Sunderland have lost each of their last six league games, last losing more consecutively between October and December 2005 in the Premier League (9 in a row).
Queens Park Rangers have won three of their last four away league games (L1), as many victories as across their first 14 away matches this season (D3 L8).
Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham is the top scoring player aged 18 or under in England’s top four tiers this season with six goals, five of which have come at the Stadium of Light.
Image source, Getty ImagesSunderland have confirmed Jenson Seelt will be out for the remainder of the season.
After the defender revealed a knee injury via Instagram, Sunderland have released the following statement via the club website: "Sunderland AFC defender Jenson Seelt has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
"A summer arrival from PSV Eindhoven, the 20-year-old sustained a knee injury during the Club’s defeat at Southampton last weekend.
"Further tests to determine the full extent of the injury, and if the Dutchman will require surgery, will be undertaken throughout the next fortnight.
"All at SAFC are supporting Jenson and wish him the very best in his recovery."
Image source, Getty ImagesDan Ballard and Trai Hume have been called-up for Northern Ireland's upcoming international friendly fixtures.
The Sunderland duo have both become regulars in their national side in recent months and will be in the squads to face Romania and Scotland.
Ballard's call-up will be a positive sign for Black Cats fans after there were injury fears for the centre-back after he came off during the 4-2 loss at Southampton. His inclusion in the Northern Ireland squad could mean Ballard features this weekend against QPR.
How much of a boost would having Dan Ballard fit be for Sunderland? Have your say here.
Image source, Getty ImagesJenson Seelt has posted on Instagram revealing he picked up a knee injury in Sunderland's 4-2 loss at Southampton.
The defender says, "I’m gutted to share the news that I suffered a knee injury during the game against Southampton.
"This has taken me by surprise and i will be out for a long period of time. For now, I need to focus on my recovery and do everything in my power to come back better & stronger than ever.
"In all difficulties during life there are lessons and things to turn into positivity."
Seelt has impressed as cover at right-back and centre-back since signing for the Black Cats in the summer. The 20-year-old Dutchman has made 17 appearances for Sunderland in the Championship this season.
How much of a blow will Seelt's injury be for Sunderland? Have your say here.
We asked for your reaction to Sunderland's 4-2 loss at Southampton. Here are some of your comments:
Nigel: Season goes from bad to worse. Starting to look over our shoulders looking down as play-offs are done. Losing Mowbray was avoidable. Beale a disaster. Not buying a recognisable striker for the last two years is criminal. Club leadership need to learn the lessons quick or risk losing large sections of the supporters.
Doug: We’re in a poor run of form, but that’s all. It can happen with a young team. There’s an awful lot of overreaction from some quarters, and people seem to have already forgotten where we’ve been. In the summer of ‘22 I said I’d be happy to spend a few seasons consolidating, building, while our young players gained experience. That hasn’t changed.
Brian: I am not satisfied with the line up, having one man up front is useless, no one available to receive the crosses. I am old fashioned but until they play at least three men up front the results will remain the same.
Gordon: Just really sad to see our club in this position. I ask; at the top of the club is there a strategy? We can look back at this term on the mistakes but right now we need stability. The rest of this season needs to focus stability. If the owners care then they need to give the fans a sign of their commitment to a great club & not just words.
Richard: Leaderless and inept. Bring in Neil Warnock to oversee remainder of season. In summer appoint a Manager commensurate with the size of our club. The “Project" is dead.
Kit: We're nine points from relegation with nine games to go. We've lost six games on the bounce. If the Board doesn't do something soon we could be in League 1 next season.
Colin: Again not an unexpected result from a team that has no direction and no leadership, they are basically sinking and have absolutely no chance of promotion, another heap of disappointment from this club.
Jeff: Hearing Dodds blaming the ref and saying Sunderland dominated is the final straw for me, I'll switch to the Pools now, Kevin Phillips a true Sunderland legend.
John: From promotion candidates to relegation possibles thanks to a clueless Chairman and an incompetent Director of Football.
Image source, Getty ImagesCallum Styles has been called-up for Hungary's upcoming international friendly fixtures.
The Sunderland utility man has been selected for the squads set to face Turkey and Kosovo at the end of March.
Styles signed for the Black Cats in January on an inital loan deal with a club option to become permanent from Barnsley.
What have you made of Callum Styles' start to life on Wearside? Have your say here.
