Manchester City will be facing Sunderland in the Premier League once again next season.
The Citizens have not met the Black Cats since they were relegated to the Championship in 2017, but they will reunite next term after Sunderland recorded a 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the playoff final.
If Sunderland get their way, they may also face Manchester City with one of the most talented in the City Football Academy in their ranks, amidst interest in Charlie Gray.
Sunderland want Charlie Gray
The Sun now state that Sunderland are keen to sign the 19-year-old from Manchester City this summer.
The Black Cats are said to view Gray as an ideal signing and a replacement for Jobe Bellingham – who is close to joining Borussia Dortmund – although a deal will not be straightforward.
Manchester City do not want to lose the teenager, but given the fact he only has 12 months remaining on his contract, the Citizens could do a deal which includes a hefty sell-on clause.
Manchester City recently earned £6m from Liam Delap’s £30m move to Chelsea, thanks to a sell-on clause agreed with Ipswich Town last summer.
Who is Manchester City wonderkid Charlie Gray?
Pep Guardiola has never used the defensive midfielder before in senior football, but it speaks volumes that his form in the City Football Academy has alerted a Premier League side in Sunderland.
Gray has been compared to Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva – making him a unique mix of robustness and deftness in midfield – also winning the EDS (Elite Development System) Players’ Player of the Season for his efforts last term.
Furthermore, the Manchester-born prospect is described as “a calming presence in the centre of midfield with an excellent range of passing” on the official club website, which also makes him sound like a similar player to Rodri.
With the above taken into account, perhaps Manchester City would be wiser to tie Gray down to a new contract and loan him to Sunderland, rather than sanction a permanent sale.
