Callum Styles’ future is still unknown despite Sunderland’s Friday morning release of their retained list.
Even though the search for a new head coach is still ongoing, Sunderland is hard at work getting ready for the upcoming campaign.
Since the campaign ended, the Academy of Light has held more behind-the-scenes recruitment talks, and on Friday the club revealed its retained list. That list made it clear that Callum Styles’ future with the team is still up in the air. So what’s going on and what can we expect next? This is what you should be aware of…
What’s Styles’ situation as it stands?
Early in the January transfer window, Sunderland and Barnsley struck a deal for Styles’ loan, but this was put in jeopardy when the 24-year-old needed appendix surgery. On deadline day, the contract was resurrected thanks to his encouraging recuperation. Styles was eager to advance beyond his anticipated participation in Hungary’s summer European Championship, and Sunderland was intrigued by his versatility—especially in light of the injuries they were suffering on the left side of their defense.
The Black Cats agreed a fee with Barnsley to make the deal permanent should they wish at the end of the campaign; Styles has a release clause in his current contract but the agreed fee is not thought to be at that same level.
What happens next – has a decision been made?
While the situation can change quickly, Sunderland are not thought to have made a final decision at the same time in which those out of contract this summer were informed of their fate. It’s thought that the clause which Sunderland can trigger to sign him permanently has a while yet to run, and so there is no urgent time pressure to make a definitive decision.
That means there is a possibility that Sunderland’s new head coach could yet have the opportunity to give his view on whether he thinks it’s a sensible move, and whether he thinks Styles could become a good player to have in his squad. While the head coach only has a limited role in recruitment within Sunderland’s structure, their view on any player is obviously taken into consideration and it would make sense for that to be the case given that the Black Cats would be paying a fee – even if it is a relatively modest one.
How likely are Sunderland to trigger the clause and would Styles be keen to make the move permanent?
While Styles had a mixed first few months on Wearside, he was a long-term target whose progress had been tracked over a long period of time. He clearly came into the team at a difficult time and his versatility could yet make him an asset to the squad moving forward.
Having been a potential target previously, Sunderland obviously feel he does have the technical ability to be part of their team at Championship level. With Barnsley losing in the League One play-offs to Bolton, Styles would almost certainly be keen on the idea of stepping up to the second tier permanently – particularly with his international prospects in mind.
