According to the Sunderland News, Sunderland appears likely to lose a talented young player to Premier League team Arsenal.
Sunderland has an excellent track record of developing young players, but a few seasons back, they have a problem with talented players departing the club. Although that trend has been broken in recent seasons, Josh Maja and Joel Asoro—who both came through the academy—appear to be set for another setback.
Mason Cotcher, 17, has been making an impression at the Academy of Light. In just 19 U18 Premier League games for Sunderland, he contributed 10 goals as they challenged Man City for the U18 championship. Because of his performance, he was called up to the England U17 team and even started the FA Cup match against Shrewsbury as a reserve.
The talented young striker hasn’t played for Sunderland at any level yet this season, though, and it’s said that the club was unable to come to a contractual agreement with him once he turned 17. Even if the Black Cats hadn’t given up on keeping him on staff, it now appears doubtful. Recently, he was selected for the Arsenal U17 team that traveled to Middlesbrough, which led to
Even if it appears that he is merely on trial, Sunderland will likely find this to be a disappointing move. Nonetheless, they have managed to hold onto two more of their U17 team’s standout players: Tom Watson signed a professional contract, while goalkeeper Matty Young promised to follow suit once he reaches 17.
Writer’s Opinion
Some are lost, and some are won. Not only does academy football include guiding gifted young players into the professional ranks, but it can also be erratic. A player may change their mind when larger clubs approach them or decide it would be better for their future to play elsewhere.
The days of a gifted 17-year-old’s only chance of success being to break out at his club are long gone. Between the ages of 12 and 17, players can now make as many moves as they would during their professional career. From a Sunderland standpoint, it is unfortunate to see Cotcher playing for Arsenal, but this is regrettably a result of the system.
The Sunderland first team will not be affected by this, in contrast to Asoro and Maja, who have first-team experience.
