Sunderland Ready to Fight Off Luton Bid for Roberts
Sunderland are poised to fend off interest in winger Patrick Roberts this week, with Championship rivals Luton Town eager to secure his signature. The Black Cats are determined to hold onto the player, who has become a key part of their squad.
Last summer, Roberts was a highly sought-after target for Southampton on deadline day, prompting Sunderland to take a gamble by keeping him despite his contract nearing its end. This summer, however, the club's position is significantly stronger. Roberts signed a new deal in July, committing himself to Sunderland until 2026 with an option for another year.
Despite this, Luton, buoyed by their recent Premier League experience and substantial transfer funds, remain keen on bringing Roberts back south. The Hatters have already demonstrated their spending power with the £10 million acquisition of Cardiff defender Mark McGuinness. Their underwhelming start to the season, with just one point from their opening three matches, has added urgency to their pursuit of reinforcements.
Luton manager Rob Edwards views Roberts as a player who could inject much-needed creativity into his attack. However, Sunderland are in a formidable position, both on and off the pitch. Roberts has flourished at the Stadium of Light, enjoying a resurgence in form since his arrival. In a recent 1-0 victory over Burnley, Roberts marked his 100th appearance for the Black Cats, highlighting his commitment to the club.
"I've gone on to call this place my home," Roberts said after the game. "I have been here for nearly three years now and it's a place I've come to build a family and create many memories. It's quite hard to believe that I've notched up 100 games, but I love playing for this club. What I want to do is to hopefully repay the fans for their amazing support. This is a bold city which has its football team right at the very heart of everything that is good. We want to make them proud."
Sunderland, unlike Luton, are not under any financial pressure to sell, having already parted ways with fellow winger Jack Clarke. This makes a transfer for Roberts seem highly improbable. Nevertheless, Luton believe they can tempt the player, and with the unpredictability of the final days of the transfer window, nothing can be ruled out entirely.
