Tom Flanagan offered new Sunderland deal

Sunderland have offered Northen Ireland International Tom Flanagan a new contract the club have confirmed. 

Flanagan played 18 times for the Black Cats in 2019-20 before the season was curtailed. 

Flanagan who arrived on Wearside from fellow League One club Burton Albion scored twice for Phil Parkinson's men during the campaign most notably in the 3-1 win away to Premier League side Burnley in the Carabao Cup in August. 

In an interview back in April the defender outlined that he wanted to stay at the Stadium of Light as he said; "I’ve got a young family who love it up here so I definitely want to stay.

 

“We’ve both said it’s the nicest place that we’ve lived up here. We’ve enjoyed it and the people and stuff like that." 

His deal is set to expire on June 30th but Parkinson wants to keep one of his key assets going into the 2020-21 season. 

Flanagan, aged 28. has won five caps for Northern Ireland since making his debut in a 1-0 win over New Zealand in June 2017.

The news comes several days after it was announced that Flanagan's International teammate Kyle Lafferty would not be staying with the League One club. 

Goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin who has been heavily linked with a move to Championship club Blackburn Rovers and Chris Maguire have also been offered fresh terms with the club. 



Maguire scored 10 goals during the 2019-20 season as Sunderland ended the season 8th due to a points-per-game formula.

Meanwhile the Wearsiders have confirmed that Joel Lynch, Alim Ozturk, Jack Baldwin, Ethan Robson and Duncan Watmore will leave this summer. 

Parkinson said: "These are always very difficult decisions to make, no manager enjoys this part of the job.

"But I want to put on record my thanks to all the lads that are leaving, and to wish them the very best of luck in the future.

"I want to make a special mention of Duncan - he is a great lad, great attitude, and he has just been desperately unfortunate with the injuries he has suffered.

"But all of these players leave with our very best wishes."