Sunderland youngster agrees new deal, report reveals

Sunderland youngster Harry Gardiner has accepted the offer of a new contract to stay at the club, reports Sunderland Echo.

Sunderland's retained list at the end of last season included no surprises. One interesting point in the list though was the fact that Sunderland were in discussions with Gardiner, 19, over a potential new deal.

Gardiner was set to become a free agent but Sunderland Echo now say that that the young striker has accepted the Black Cats' contract offer and that he's due at the Academy of Light today to sign the deal.

Last season, Gardiner featured 12 times in the Premier League 2, scoring six goals for Sunderland, but he's yet to make his debut for the Black Cats' first-teeam.

Sunderland Echo add that Michael Spellman - another young striker in the Sunderland academy that was set for contract negations this summer - is yet to renew terms with the club.

Moving forward...

Sunderland have made some impressive signings so far this summer. They've brought in the likes of Luis Semedo, Nectarios Triantis, and Jobe Bellingham, but the club still seems to be paying attention to its academy which is obviously a positive.

The Academy of Light has produced some great players in recent seasons, including names like Anthony Patterson and Dan Neil, and seeing those players make it all the way into the first-team will give players like Gardiner hope for the future.

If Gardiner can make an impression in pre-season then he could steadily come into Tony Mowbray's first-team plans for next season, and the club could yet unearth another talent from their academy.

Moving forward...

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