Tom Flanagan signs new two year deal with Sunderland

Northern Ireland international Tom Flanagan has put pen to paper on a new two year deal at Sunderland.

Flanagan played 18 times for the Black Cats last season before the campaign was curtailed. 

The 28-year-old - 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. 

He had been linked to a move to newly promoted Championship side Coventry City but has decided to commit his future to the Wearside club. 

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

The Black Cats defender saw his previous deal expire at the end of June and while a number of first-team players were released ahead of a third campaign in League One including international teammate Kyle Lafferty, Parkinson wanted to keep the centre-back on the books. 

After committing his future to the club, the 28-year-old said “It’s been an uncertain time in every sense, so it’s good to have it signed and sealed, and I’ll be raring to go once we return to training. I get on really well with the manager and I like his management style, so I’m really looking forward to the next two years. There is definitely unfinished business for me at the club, so I can’t wait to be back.”

Black Cats boss Parkinson added: “I’m really pleased that we’ve agreed a new deal with Tom. He’s a good character and an excellent professional, and we are all looking forward to working with him again during the upcoming season."

The Black Cats are also reportably close to sealing a move for Bailey Wright who spent the second part of last season on loan at the club before injury and the Coronavirus pandemic ended his season.