Mannone will be the third first-team player to sign a new contract if terms are agreed.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe celebrates with Vito Mannone
Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone is the latest first team player in line for a new contract, according to a report in the Sunderland Echo.
The Black Cats have already secured a new contract for Jermain Defoe and Patrick van Aanholt and it looks as if their goalkeeper could be next.
The Sunderland Echo’s report says that talks are at preliminary stage as they look to tie the Italian down to a new deal as he is about to enter the final year of his existing contract and no formal offer has been made to the player at this point.
Sunderland’s Vito Mannone celebrates
There is a need for the club to improve on Mannone’s current deal as he is one of the lower paid members of the first team, the report states, therefore an offer that reflects his status as the club’s regular first choice goalkeeper will need to be on the table.
Mannone is said to be settled at the Stadium of Light and wants to stay, making negotiations that little bit more straight forward.
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce
It probably helps that manager Sam Allardyce is not going to be looking for a new goalkeeper, and is happy with Jordan Pickford acting as deputy and providing competition going into next season.
This is one deal that is vital for Sunderland to get done going into the new season, purely because no-one will want uncertainty over their last line of defence, and is awarded a deal that is befitting of his current role in the squad.
Sunderland fans