Alious
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has strongly hinted that several fringe players could be heading for the exit door in January, following young defender **Zak Johnson’s** temporary move to National League high-flyers York City.
Johnson completed his loan switch on Friday and will remain with Stuart Maynard’s side throughout the busy festive period, before returning to the Academy of Light in early January. The 20-year-old has featured four times for Sunderland’s senior team and previously gained experience on loan at **Hartlepool United, Dundalk,** and **Notts County**.
Academy manager **Robin Nicholls** explained the motivation behind the deal, stating that the move offers Johnson another valuable opportunity to gain meaningful game time. With consistent competitive minutes proving crucial to his development, Sunderland will be tracking his progress closely during his National League spell.
Johnson’s departure highlights a wider issue at the club. After a major summer overhaul that saw **14 new signings** arrive on Wearside, several players have struggled to secure regular minutes under Le Bris. The list includes out-of-favour senior players such as **Ian Poveda, Timothee Pembele,** and **Abdoullah Ba**, as well as emerging prospects like **Harrison Jones**, who have bounced between the occasional first-team cameo and appearances for Graeme Murty’s U21 squad.
Speaking ahead of Sunderland’s midweek Premier League clash with Liverpool, Le Bris acknowledged that the upcoming winter window will be crucial in managing both the club’s needs and players’ development paths.
“Yes, the next transfer window will be important for that,” he said. “It’s a pivotal moment in the season. After six months of hard work, you have the opportunity to realign different projects — the player’s project and the club’s project. When they don’t match, energy levels can drop. Zak is a good example, and we’ll likely have **two, three, or even four** more following a similar path.”
With January approaching, Sunderland appear ready to streamline the squad — and several players on the fringes could soon be heading out in search of vital game time.
Alious
