Can Eli And Wilson Play A Role For Sunderland During 2026/2027?

ALCALA DE HENARES, SPAIN - MARCH 31: Eliezer Mayenda of Spain looks on during the UEFA U21 EURO 2027 Qualifier between Spain and Kosovo at Centro Deportivo Alcala de Henares on March 31, 2026 in Alcala de Henares, Spain. (Photo by Luciano Lima/Getty Images) | Getty Images Gav says… A lot probably depends on where we finish the season, so it’s probably a little too early to say. If we — and I know this sounds utterly mental — manage to qualify for Europe, the demands on the squad will be far greater than if we’re just competing for domestic honours next season, so that probably changes how we recruit and also how many players we’re prepared to lose.

Still, I think the writing is probably on the wall for Isidor. I’ll be sad to see him leave, but he’s going to be twenty six in the summer and there’s absolutely no way that he’s been happy and content to just sit on the bench and be third choice this season. He’s a striker; they all have huge egos and he knows that there are plenty of clubs out there who would absolutely love for him to play for them, so I guess he could walk away from Sunderland, say “job done” and move on to the next challenge.

I think that Mayenda, at twenty years old, needs to be kept around the squad and dropped in and out in the way he has been this season. Again, he probably wants to be playing every week but it’s very easy to forget just how young he is, and not many lads his age have had as much game time in the Premier League this season. He’a going to get better with time and I already think he has shown he is capable in the Premier League, so there’s no way I’d be loaning him out or even considering a sale — he’s got far too much potential for us to be making rash calls.

Ciaran McKenna says… Both Isidor and Mayenda have earned themselves a lot of credit with me in the short time they’ve been here. They were integral to our promotion last season and became two of my favourite players. However, it perhaps hasn’t worked out perfectly for either of them this year.