Dennis Cirkin's contract and transfer situation at Sunderland AFC explained | OneFootball

The left-back has been attracting the attention of other clubs with his strong performances this season.

Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin has been arguably the best player in his position in the Championship this season.

Of all the improvements that have been made by the Wearsiders since Regis Le Bris became their head coach in the summer, Cirkin's is one of the biggest.

He struggled with fitness problems for the majority of the 2023/24 campaign, playing in just eight of the 46 league games, but has already surpassed that mark this season, and has got off to a flying start, with two goals, an assist and nine clean sheets in Sunderland's first 15 Championship fixtures of the new term.

His improvement should not come as much of a surprise. At Tottenham Hotspur, whose academy he came through before moving to the North East in the summer of 2021, he was very highly rated. The 22-year-old also played a big part in getting the club back up to the Championship in the first place – adding 10 goal contributions from the left flank and proving a useful defensive presence.

Dennis Cirkin transfer situation

Any high-level performer doesn't go unnoticed by both those around them and others watching. One Championship team in particular has been credited with interest in Cirkin.

According to The Sunday Mirror (print edition, page 69, 10/11/24), Leeds United see him as a possible target ahead of the January window.

Daniel Farke's side are a bit short at full-back after losing wide defensive options Luke Ayling and Archie Gray in the summer, and acquiring the Sunderland left-back would certainly be a statement of intent by the promotion chasers, who are likely going to battle with the Black Cats for the top spots.

Cirkin stated, prior to the November international break, that, despite some off-form leading up to it, he believed Sunderland would be competing at the top end of the table come the conclusion of this season.

Dennis Cirkin's contract situation amid Leeds United interest

When the then 19-year-old Cirkin first moved to the Stadium of Light, after Sunderland paid an undisclosed fee for him, he signed a three-year deal.

Tottenham reported had a £6 million buy-back clause inserted into the original deal, which will have been cause for concern after he initially impressed on Wearside but that had an expiry date on it which passed on 30th June 2023.

Before that date came, Cirkin had already penned a new deal with Sunderland, extending his scheduled stay until the summer of 2026.

He is estimated, by Capology, to be earning a base salary of £10,000 per week, which would make him the joint-fifth highest earner at the club, alongside academy product Anthony Patterson.

In September of this year, the club's sporting director said, as per the Northern Echo, that the club were looking into further extensions for the left-back and captain Dan Neil. Sunderland's lack of desire to sell the 22-year-old should, therefore, come as no surprise.

Those deals are yet to come to fruition, though, and both men are still set to become free agents in the summer of 2026.

Cirkin told the Echo