A report from Alan Nixon, via the Sunderland Echo suggests the Black Cats are keen to agree to fresh terms with attacker Caden Kelly.
The Irish attacker made his debut for the Black Cats in the EFL Trophy in 2021, coming on as a late substitute against Manchester United Under 21s. He then made an appearance in the Carabao Cup in 2022/23 against Sheffield Wednesday.
He is perhaps best known on Wearside for his exploits in the Under 21 side. He’s bagged ten goals and ten assists in 42 Premier League 2 matches, a feat which saw him pen his first professional deal in 2022.
The 20-year-old featured on the bench for the first team since, but has not got on the field. That hasn’t stopped him from impressing, and reports now suggest that Regis Le Bris’s side are working on a new deal for the player.
A clause in his existing deal was triggered at the end of last season, giving the Black Cats some comfort for the next 12 months, but with a growing reputation, they’re eager to tie him down for longer. He has some experience with a top-flight club – he was on the books of Manchester City before a move to Wearside, and he was featured in the youth setup at League Two side Salford City.
In May, he was linked with a loan move away from the Stadium of Light, with National League outfit Halifax keen to offer him a platform to shine. Players from the Academy of Light have benefited from such loans in the past. Jack Diamond was a huge success with Harrogate at that level, while Lynden Gooch had a spell with Gateshead before breaking into the first team.
Writer’s View
The Academy of Light has produced a lot of decent players in the past, many plying their trade away from the club. The likes of Elliot Embleton and Lyden Gooch have both come through the ranks to feature for the first team, with plenty of others in the EFL.
Kelly’s goal ratio is exciting in the youth setup, and there’s a feeling he might be the next player to emerge from the academy and go on to have a big career.
There’s no surprise the Black Cats want to protect their investment, and who knows, perhaps he can get another run out in the League Cup or even a loan move for some first-team matches.
