Football League World

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Young QPR winger Emmerson Sutton is quickly becoming one of the standout talents in the club’s academy, with his performances at youth level turning heads beyond the Loftus Road faithful.

The 18-year-old, who joined the R’s as an Under-12, has been a key figure in the Under-18 squad and has also gained experience with the Development Squad this season.

Sutton’s growing reputation bloomed when he netted a hat-trick in the FA Youth Cup against Arsenal, and his ability has not gone unnoticed.

Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Newcastle United have all previously shown interest in the young forward before he committed his future to QPR by signing his first professional contract in January.

Football League World spoke with resident R's expert Louis Moir on the club’s exciting prospect.

The Queens Park Rangers wonderkid who’s always scoring “worldies”

“I think the wonderkid at the moment at QPR has got to be Emmerson Sutton,” Moir told FLW.

“Obviously he’s not been featured yet in the professional set-up, in terms of the first team, but it’s not been long since he signed a professional deal at the club and he’s definitely the name that’s coming out of that youth team at the moment.

“It seems like every other game, or every game recently, he’s always scoring goals and, most notably, he got a hat-trick against Arsenal youth in the cup, and every time I see these goals for the youth team, they’re always like worldies as well.

“He seems to have a cracking strike on him, he looks quick, he looks technical, he looks direct.”

“The way he’s going at the moment, he could well be finding himself being involved in the first team set up, whether that’s on the bench or potentially getting minutes depending on what happens with us at the end of the season.

“I think it’d be good for him. I think he might deserve it. He could well be that next talented youngster coming through, but you don’t want to speak too soon - you say you’re going to sell on for millions in the future, but you know, with what he’s showing at the moment, he looks really exciting.”

“And hopefully continues to develop and progress and we get to see him in the first team, because there’s even been rumours of big clubs looking at him and wanting to snap him up early.”

“If he’s living up, or if he lives up to that hype I think we could have a real player on our hands. Emmerson Sutton - I really want to see him in the first team set up.”

Marti Cifuentes should take a chance on emerging QPR wonderkid

With QPR unlikely to be in serious danger of relegation or mounting a push for promotion as the season winds down, this presents the perfect opportunity for head coach Marti Cifuentes to give Sutton a clear route into the first-team squad.

As Moir suggests, his form at youth level has been too impressive to ignore, and beginning to introduce him to senior football now could accelerate his development.

Sutton himself has spoken about how seeing the pathway of players like Kieran Morgan, Alfie Lloyd, and Rayan Kolli has given him belief that he can break through.

Given the previous interest from the Premier League elite, it would be a significant statement from QPR to integrate Sutton into the first team rather than risk losing him before he reaches his full potential.

Cifuentes has the chance to make a bold call - one that could benefit both Sutton and the club in the long run.

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes Southampton have set their reported asking price of £100million for Tyler Dibling way too high, instead using Leeds United’s sale of Archie Gray last summer as a better reference point.

After missing out on promotion to the Premier League to Southampton last May, Leeds sold Gray to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £40million in the 2024 summer transfer window.

Whilst Hendrie is a fan of the winger, he believes that Southampton would only receive up to half of their apparent valuation.

Tyler Dibling turning heads after breakthrough Southampton season

After being handed his senior debut in the EFL Cup last season, a campaign where he made just two total appearances, Dibling has broken into the Southampton first team to establish himself as a Premier League regular.

That has seen the winger linked to other Premier League clubs such as Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as interest from the continent in the form of Bayern Munich.

As such, Saints have slapped a huge asking price on their starlet, with reports suggesting they want £100million for Dibling.

Dibling has already left Southampton once before, briefly joining Chelsea’s academy for a handful of months before returning to the south coast after failing to settle in London.

Chelsea paid £1.5million for Dibling when he was 16 - but now Saints want over 60 times that fee to allow the 19-year-old to leave the club for a second time.

Exclusively speaking to Football League World, Lee Hendrie used the sale of Archie Gray as a reference when talking about the possible sale of Dibling.

He stated: “Do I think Tyler Dibling is worth £100million?

“I think if you look at what Leeds got for Archie Gray, £40million, then I think £100million is absolutely astronomical.

“It really is. I just think that, yes, he is a very good player, talented and has got youth on his side, but that is a huge, huge fee.”

There are further similarities between Gray and Dibling, with the youngsters highly rated by fans years before their senior debuts.

Both players were named on the bench for Premier League fixtures when they were just young teens, with legendary Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa including a 15-year-old Gray in a matchday squad, whilst Dibling was named amongst the substitutes as a 16-year-old.

Reports suggest that after a breakthrough season, Dibling will make a multi-million-pound move away – just as Gray did following his first year as a regular starter for Leeds.

Gray started all but six games of Leeds United’s 46-match-long Championship campaign last term, paving the way for his £40million to Spurs.

Hendrie continued: “I think you’ve got to be really proven that you can go and produce and do what’s expected of you at that sort of fee.

“We know there are lots of young players sometimes it's difficult for them to actually do that, so I think it's a massive fee.”

Pundit Lee Hendrie makes Tyler Dibling evaluation

After downplaying Southampton’s chances of receiving £100million for their talented youngster, Hendrie suggested a more realistic transfer fee.

Hendrie’s valuation was more in line with the money Leeds received for selling Gray last season.

However, Southampton might be able to demand more than the £40million Spurs paid for Gray, thanks to the fact that Dibling will have a season of Premier League football under his belt.

That being said, Saints’ position is slightly undermined by the fact that Dibling is yet to sign a new contract despite previous negotiations.

Dibling’s current deal expires in 2026, but Southampton hold the option to extend it by a further year.

“I would say maybe a £40 million or £50million fee is probably the going rate these days,” Hendrie added.

“But £100 million is just way, way too much.”

Djed Spence has opened up on Neil Warnock’s comments about the player following his loan move from Middlesbrough to Nottingham Forest.

The defender struggled under the veteran coach at the Riverside, which led to Warnock claiming that Spence could be either playing in the Premier League or in non-league in five years’ time.

The former Middlesbrough full-back went on to help Forest gain promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs, contributing two goals and four assists from 39 Championship appearances.

His performances earned him a big money move to Tottenham Hotspur, where he has become a regular presence in Ange Postecoglou’s side, earning Europa League experience as part of the London outfit.

Djed Spence makes Neil Warnock claim

Spence has claimed that he found Warnock’s comments to be strange, and that he struggled to take it on board.

However, the 24-year-old revealed that he held discussions with the manager in which he often showered him with strong praise.

"If I'm honest I didn't take it on," said Spence, via the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

"I don't know.

“I had a lot of conversations with him to be fair, and he always said he'd seen a lot of players and you can be the best.

“He made that comment, I'm either going to be non league or whatever he said.

"It's a weird one because if I go in and do rubbish and become non league, he was right.

“If I go on and become the best, he was right. It's a weird comment.

“He's alright, man, he's alright."

Djed Spence since leaving Middlesbrough

It was reported by Sky Sports in the summer of 2022 that Spurs agreed a deal worth up to £20 million to sign Spence from Middlesbrough following his strong Forest loan.

However, he was unable to make a mark at the club under Antonio Conte, leading to a loan move to French side Rennes in the 2022/23 campaign, where he made eight appearances.

Loan moves to Leeds United and Genoa also led to underwhelming results, before returning to Spurs under Postecoglou.

Spence has made 16 appearances in the Premier League this season for the London outfit, with the team currently 14th in the table.

Spence sale worked out for Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough made the right decision to cash in on Spence given how much he struggled, even in the Championship, in the years since.

But he is now finding his feet in the Premier League, and has proven a useful part of the side under Postecoglou.

Warnock was ultimately right that he had the potential to play at the highest level, and the player deserves a lot of credit for working hard and constantly improving even with the many setbacks he’s suffered.

If he can keep up his current form, then he could become a key presence for Spurs over the next few years.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly submitted a £38m transfer bid for Sunderland's Chris Rigg during the international break, according to Fichajes.

That offer far exceeds what West Ham United are willing to pay, with Graham Potter's side eyeing a £10m move for the teenager, as per The Sun (print edition; 23 March, page 55).

The report by the tabloid indicates that the Black Cats are looking for around £20m for the midfielder, meaning Spurs have bid significantly above his valuation.

Spurs to steal march on West Ham for Chris Rigg

Rigg is one of several Sunderland players linked with a summer move away from the club and looks set to be one of their most in-demand talents.

On Sunday, it was revealed by The Sun that the Hammers are interested in a potential move for the 17-year-old but are seeking a deal for half of the player's asking price.

Furthermore, the report claims that the Hebburn-born youngster is eager to play in the Premier League to further his development.

That potential deal would almost certainly not be entertained by the Wearsiders, considering Rigg's substantial potential and the stature of clubs already linked with his services.

However, reports that Spurs have bid almost double the player's valuation suggest that Ange Postecoglou's side are serious admirers of Rigg.

Tottenham have shown that they are keen to acquire young English talent and paid around £30m to sign Archie Gray from Leeds United last summer and also spent £25 to secure French Under-21 international Wilson Odobert.

The North London outfit's bid for Rigg shows that they are set on following on from last summer's transfer strategy and consider the teenager a serious talent.

Sunderland will find it hard to resist Spurs' bid

Sunderland are braced for a host of bids for their talented young squad and failure to secure promotion looks set to spell the end of Rigg's future at the Stadium of Light.

The midfielder enjoyed an emphatic start to the season and, after securing his place in Regis Le Bris' starting eleven, he went on to play a key role in the club's early season form.

Although recent performances have not been up to scratch, it has been a phenomenal season for the 17-year-old, who has four goals and one assist to his name so far.

The club are in a strong selling position, considering he has over two years remaining on his current contract and the fact he seems extremely happy on Wearside.

However, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and co will have a decision to make if reports of Spurs' bid are true and a fee of £38m may well be too hard to resist.

Rigg is an academy product, meaning however much he is sold for will be deemed pure profit for the club and the reported figure seems like a fair price.

Of course, some will argue that the club should be seeking closer to £50m for the midfielder, but £38 for a Championship player would be hard to turn down.

If reports of Tottenham's bid are true, then the Black Cats are going to find it extremely difficult to hold on to Rigg unless they can secure promotion to the Premier League.

However, considering how many clubs have been linked with the teenager, their £38 bid could be about to be blown out of the water.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of Premier League clubs as well as Championship promotion rivals Leeds United who are eyeing up a potential transfer swoop for Sunderland star Dennis Cirkin.

That's according to a report from TBR Football on Thursday, and is news that will no doubt have Black Cats supporters sweating on Cirkin's long-term Stadium of Light future.

The 22-year-old left-back has been shining for the Wearsiders in the Championship this season, and has established himself as one of the best young full-backs in the second tier.

Spurs keeping tabs on Dennis Cirkin Sunderland progress over possible future swoop

As revealed by TBR Football, Spurs are among a collection of Premier League clubs taking a keen interest in Cirkin, with Tottenham said to have been keeping a close eye on his progress ever since he departed the club for Sunderland in 2021.

TBR state that numerous respected scouts have informed them that the former England youth international is viewed as the "Championship's outstanding full-back" at this very moment in time.

As well as Tottenham circling their former academy starlet, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Everton and fellow second tier side Leeds United have all been credited as having watched him at various points this season too.

Sunderland may rue failing to tie Cirkin down to long-term contract extension earlier in the season

Cirkin is out of contract at the Stadium of Light in the summer of 2026, leaving his long-term future on Wearside firmly up in the air.

Sunderland had entered negotiations earlier this season, but after failing to make any progress on a new deal, the Black Cats have decided to shelve talks until the end of the campaign.

“We’ve had those conversations with the guys,” Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman confirmed via The Northern Echo in February.

“There’s no question over Dennis or Dan’s (Neil) commitment to Sunderland. But I don’t think at the minute, it’s the right moment to be getting into too much of a conversation with them.

"That’s really just down to the short time period we’ve got to the summer. We’ve got so much to achieve, and we need to stay focused.”

However, with Premier League interest seemingly mounting in their impressive young defender, Sunderland may now be wishing they'd been able to come to an agreement.

Not only will his transfer value potentially suffer as a result of having just 12 months remaining on his contract come the summer, but should the Black Cats fail to win promotion to the top flight, then they could face a real challenge retaining his services.

These significant transfer developments may cause the club's hierarchy to get round the negotiation table sooner than they'd planned, however, and could force them into action.

West Brom boss Tony Mowbray felt the threat that Leeds United pose from their full-backs is comparable to Tottenham after Albion left Elland Road with a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon.

The Baggies made the trip north knowing they were coming up against the outstanding side in the division right now, with the Whites leading the way and on course to win promotion to the Premier League.

However, Albion made it difficult for the hosts, and they will feel they merited the point they got, which came after Darnell Furlong had cancelled out Junior Firpo’s opener.

Leeds United’s full-backs offer constant attacking threat

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect for Mowbray was how his side responded to conceding a ninth-minute goal, which came thanks to Firpo’s second in as many games.

The former Barcelona man has been excellent this season, with his pace and direct style offering Leeds another threat in the final third.

It’s a similar story with Jayden Bogle on the right, with Daniel Farke keen to give the duo plenty of license to get forward.

That was evident on Monday night when Firpo headed Leeds’ equaliser as they came from behind to beat Sheffield United, and he found the net with another header against Albion.

Whilst Bogle didn’t get on the scoresheet, he was consistently up and down the right flank, and there were occasions when the two full-backs actually linked up together in the final third.

And, speaking to reporter Beren Cross, Mowbray admitted that the tactical approach caused Albion problems, as he compared the style to Ange Postecoglou at Spurs.

“Not many full-backs play like theirs do. Postecoglou pushes his full-backs that high and narrow too.”

West Brom will be pleased with defensive display at Leeds United

This is an interesting insight from Mowbray, and it highlights how Leeds are different to most other teams with their approach.

It’s a bold strategy from Farke, as pushing your full-backs that high up the pitch comes with obvious risks, but it works for Leeds, with Bogle and Firpo both flourishing.

Yet, Albion managed to restrict Leeds reasonably well over the course of the game, and it was a real team effort, with the wingers dropping back in to help out.

Plus, West Brom did have chances on the break, so there were plenty of positives for Mowbray to take, and it was a good point for his side in their quest to secure a top six finish this season.

Leeds United are reportedly facing fresh competition for the permanent services of Manor Solomon from Leicester City, who have seemingly registered an interest in landing the Tottenham Hotspur winger.

That’s according to a recent update from GIVEMESPORT, which has detailed the Foxes’ interest in Solomon.

The Israeli international is currently on loan in the Championship with Leeds, who could look to bring him to Elland Road on a permanent basis if they gain promotion this season.

Leeds are on track to seal a return to the Premier League at the second time of asking, having extended their lead at the top of the table to five points by beating second-placed Sheffield United 3-1 away from home on Monday evening.

Daniel Farke’s side have made significant strides towards lifting the Championship title in recent months and such efforts have been helped by the displays of Solomon, who has established himself as a key performer after enduring a mixed start to life in the second-tier.

Solomon has recorded seven goals and seven assists apiece over the course of the campaign, with his recent form keeping the likes of Willy Gnonto and fellow summer signing Largie Ramazani out of the team.

It would make a great deal of sense, then, just why Leeds could be to ensure his stay at the club isn’t for only one season. However, they now appear to be facing intensifying competition in the race to win his signature for a second time.

Leicester City join Leeds United, Everton in transfer race for Spurs’ Manor Solomon

There has been speculation surrounding Solomon’s long-term future with parent club Spurs in recent times. It was revealed in a prior report published by GIVEMESPORT that Spurs are willing to offload the forward this summer for a fee between £10-15 million.

That report stated that Leeds would “love” to re-sign Solomon while noting interest from Everton, too. However, it’s now said Leeds are yet to make a definitive decision on the prospect of swooping back in for Solomon in the event of promotion.

But Leeds will now have to overcome fresh competition if they decide to pursue the 25-year-old. Journalist Ben Jacobs has informed GIVEMESPORT that Leicester are keeping a hopeful eye on Solomon, with any potential move likely to hinge on the outcome of their battle against relegation back to the Championship.

The Foxes are currently 19th in the Premier League and have won just four of their 26 matches this season, meaning they are five points shy of 17th-placed Wolves. Relegation appears a likely prospect, then, but they are described as “one to watch” in the race for Solomon if they defy the odds to seal survival.

Jacobs is quoted as saying: "There are other Premier League clubs interested.

"Everton have discussed him internally, Leicester City if they can somehow stay in the Premier League are another one to watch."

Leeds United could be well-placed to strike permanent Manor Solomon, Spurs transfer agreement

It’s not yet completely clear just how intent Leeds are on signing Solomon permanently amid conflicting reports, but should they decide to, they will surely be well-placed to see off the current competition.

Leeds have the financial muscle to meet what is a reasonable reported transfer valuation from Spurs, with whom they have conducted a number of successful deals over the last couple of years.

The two sides clearly enjoy a healthy working relationship at the very least, and engaged in business last summer in the deal which saw Archie Gray move down to north London while Joe Rodon headed the other way.

Leeds have reignited Solomon’s career as of late, with the winger having just stalled somewhat following an injury-plagued debut campaign with Spurs last time out. That too could help their chances, one would imagine.

Leicester’s interest, meanwhile, may not offer much cause for concern. While the Foxes are not yet mathematically relegated by any stretch, their odds of staying up do appear slim at this moment in time.

The interest from Everton does feel more serious, but Leeds will still fancy their chances of signing him and should be looking to do exactly that once promotion is delivered.

Leeds United are set to engage in a transfer battle with Everton for the services of Manor Solomon heading into the 2025/26 campaign, but their recent dealings with Tottenham Hotspur could help to return the winger from north London.

It's looking increasingly likely that the Whites will achieve promotion to the Premier League at the second time of asking. Daniel Farke's side, who are unbeaten in 16 Championship matches, extended their lead at the top of the table to five points by claiming a dramatic 3-1 victory away to second-placed Sheffield United on Monday evening.

Leeds have put together a formidable run of form in recent months, which has been helped by Solomon's growing influence. The Israeli international headed to Elland Road on loan at the start of the season and initially encountered a mixed start to life in the Championship but has since found his feet to establish himself as one of the very best attackers in the division.

Solomon's return of five goals and six assists from his last 14 appearances have tightened Leeds' grip on the league title. The winger has seven goals and assists apiece overall and his displays are keeping the likes of Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani out of the side - no mean feat by any stretch, of course.

It makes perfect sense that Leeds, who may already have one eye on the Premier League for next season, are eager to make Solomon's stay in west Yorkshire a permanent one. It's equally unsurprising that they face competition for his signature next term, but they may just have a trump card that could swing in their favour.

Leeds United, Everton's transfer interest in Tottenham Hotspur's Manor Solomon

Solomon is reportedly available for transfer away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Leeds are among the sides keen to capitalise on Ange Postecoglou's stance. As per a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Spurs are open to selling Solomon for a fee between £10-15 million amid interest from both Leeds and Everton.

The 25-year-old struggled with injuries last season at Spurs and has been unable to make his mark with the side.

It's said Leeds would "love" to strike a permanent deal for the talented attacker if they gain promotion back to the top-flight as expected, and the mooted fee is deemed reasonable.

Everton are one side known to be interested in Solomon. However, one would only expect wider interest to grow in the coming weeks and months given Solomon's form this season and the price he's available at, meaning further top-flight competition - be it domestically or continentally - would surely be no shock.

Leeds have the natural advantage of having had Solomon for a season and helping to reignite the career of the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk flyer, but an underrated boost could also be their recent transfer history with Spurs.

Leeds United may have advantage over Everton for Tottenham Hotspur, Manor Solomon transfer deal

The Whites have struck a number of agreements with Spurs in recent times, and the two sides clearly enjoy a positive working relationship at the very least.

Of course, there was the deal for Solomon, while Leeds have also brokered two other loan moves with Spurs since relegation from the Premier League - namely that for Joe Rodon and a less-successful move for Djed Spence, which was terminated mid-way through the previous season.

The most notable deal between Leeds and Spurs, however, saw homegrown prodigy Archie Gray leave for the Premier League giants last summer in a reported £30 million move. Gray had been linked to a number of sides including Brentford, but Spurs eventually won his signature while Rodon headed the other way following his impressive loan stay.

Those relations, and the ability to successfully agree a number of deals in the last two seasons, should surely help Leeds. They will already fancy their chances of pulling off a permanent move for Solomon, all things considered, but recent history could make a decisive difference and they need to be capitalising on exactly that.

Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly willing to sell winger Manor Solomon this summer, with a number of sides interested in the Israel international - including current loan club Leeds United.

The 25-year-old excelled as of late at Championship leaders Leeds, and has been a main catalyst for their current 15-game unbeaten run in league action.

His performances have kept the likes of Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani confined to the substitutes bench, as he's started the last nine games, scoring four and assisting four in that time.

Tottenham Hotspur set £10-15 million price tag for Leeds United loanee Manor Solomon

Leeds fans were beginning to worry that Solomon may become another loan player who they were able to enjoy for just a season before returning to their parent club.

However, GiveMeSport are reporting that the winger will be allowed to leave Spurs in the summer, and for a price that Leeds fans will no doubt want their club to pay.

Despite Solomon's contract not running out until the summer of 2028, it has been reported that it will only cost between £10 million and £15 million to secure his services away from Spurs.

Solomon has endured a tough time at Tottenham, despite seeming to play a big part in the early months of his tenure, where he appeared in five of the opening seven Premier League games in the 2023/24 season.

Persistent knee injuries meant that they were the only five league games he'd play for Spurs before his season-long loan move to Leeds United, where he has started to reignite the form which saw him make the move to the 'Big Six' club.

If Leeds were to be promoted this season, they will be expected to try and bring Solomon in permanently, as he's shown over the past few months that he is perhaps worth the price tag Ange Postecoglou has put on his head.

Leeds United expected to battle with Everton for Manor Solomon's signature

A permanent deal for Solomon at Leeds United may not be as simple as those at Elland Road would like it to be, as they will reportedly face competition from Everton for his signature

That is, of course, if Leeds do secure promotion out of the Championship this season. The Whites have looked dominant throughout the season, but do face stiff competition from the likes of Sheffield United and Burnley for a place in the top two.

Solomon has shown his quality this season, and will most definitely be looking to challenge himself in the Premier League next season if he were to remain in England.

Leeds will be hopeful that they can secure Solomon permanently, and make him the second loan player from Tottenham to remain at Elland Road after his temporary spell after Joe Rodon signed for the Whites last summer.

Sunderland could net themselves a significant amount of money if they were to sell Wilson Isidor this summer.

According to reports from Chronicle Live, scouts from Premier League outfits Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace were left impressed by the Frenchman’s performance in the Black Cats’ 2-1 defeat to Leeds United on Monday night.

Despite Regis Le Bris’ men falling to defeat in stoppage time, it is no surprise Isidor caught the eye, as he displayed the level of quality he possesses yet again with a pinpoint finish to put Sunderland ahead in the first-half.

The frontman only made his move to the Stadium of Light a permanent one during the January transfer window, but his impressive performances this season mean that Sunderland could already find themselves facing substantial offers for him in the summer.

Isidor has been superb this season

Only Borja Sainz and Joel Piroe have found the net more times than Isidor in the Championship so far this season.

The striker has been a revelation since moving to the North East from Zenit St Petersburg in the summer. He initially joined the Black Cats on a season-long loan deal, but his performances in the first half of the campaign were so impressive, that Sunderland opted to exercise their option to sign him on a permanent basis as early as February.

Although the official fee for Isidor was undisclosed, it was believed to be in the region of £3million (according to the Chronicle Live).

Given how effortlessly he has adapted to the English game, Isidor is already making that fee look tiny.

Monday night’s strike to put Sunderland ahead at Elland Road was the latest in a growing catalogue of eye-catching goals. It was a goal that encapsulated everything that he brings to Le Bris’ team.

Isidor showcased his strength and power by expertly pinning and then rolling Ethan Ampadu, before coolly slotting the ball past Illan Meslier and into the corner, via the inside of the far post.

A scarcely believable pair of stoppage time penalty misses in the 0-0 draw at Burnley in the middle of January was a notable down point, but Isidor has certainly proven his mental strength in the way in which he has bounced back from that disappointment.

The 24-year-old has notched four goals and one assist in the six games since that clash in Lancashire.

Sunderland would surely make a huge amount of profit on Isidor

Although he has only been at Sunderland for less than a year, given how high Isidor’s stock is right now, there must surely be a temptation for the club to sell him on in the summer.

As big a blow as it would be for the Black Cats to lose their talisman, with the likes of Spurs and Crystal Palace sniffing around, Sunderland could surely drive their asking price up significantly.

Palace are no strangers to taking young stars from the Championship. Millwall academy graduate Romain Esse was the latest to make the switch to the Eagles in January, while the South London outfit have also helped turn Ebere Eze from a promising Championship youngster into a genuine England international.

With the way the transfer market is now, Premier League clubs are beginning to throw more money at Championship players, with the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter making big money moves in the summer.

Losing Isidor so soon would undoubtedly be disappointing for Sunderland and especially the fans, but it would almost certainly see them net a huge profit from just one year’s work on the player.

Re-invest that profit wisely, and it could easily go towards three or four top-quality players to ensure the Black Cats have the strongest possible chance of either achieving promotion or Premier League survival next season.

If Le Bris’ men are to get over the line this season, becoming a Premier League club would only serve to add more money to Isidor’s valuation. If the Black Cats became a top-flight outfit once again, they could at least be safe in the knowledge that only the country’s genuine top clubs would be a step-up.

For now though, all attention at the club will be geared towards securing their return to the Premier League. With a tense end to the season ahead for Sunderland, Isidor could yet make an even more valuable contribution.