BREAKING NEWS: Alex Pritchard has formally requested a transfer to depart from Sunderland “with immediate effect.”

Midfielder Alex Pritchard has officially requested a transfer from Sunderland, as confirmed by the club. The announcement, made just before their Championship match against Stoke City, stated that Pritchard would not be available for the game and had expressed his immediate desire to leave the club.

The 30-year-old, who joined Sunderland in the summer of 2021, has been a significant presence in the squad this season, making 25 appearances with one goal and five assists.

Speculation surrounding Pritchard’s future has increased, given that his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and negotiations between him and the club have not reached an agreement. Sunderland, currently in 10th place in the Championship table, faces the approaching transfer window deadline, with heightened anticipation about Pritchard’s situation in the days leading up to the closure.

THe club has undergone recent changes, with Michael Beale taking over as manager last month, having secured two victories in his six Championship fixtures in charge before the Stoke City match.