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Reports continue to come in from various sources that Sunderland have pretty much agreed to a new deal with Connor Wickham, and now the story is moving on to Lee Cattermole being next in line to be offered new terms.
The former Middlesbrough midfielder still has eighteen months left on his deal that expires in 2016, but Goal reports that, with the more immediate contractual concerns tied up, the club will focus on securing Cattermole's future.
I would certainly match the pattern we've been seeing from Lee Congerton, who has been pretty prolific in contract negotiations since joining the club. He was unable to get new deals for Phil Bardsley, now at Stoke City, and Jack Colback (I forget where he went...) but should Wickham sign in the dotted line he will have joined John O'Shea and Seb Larsson as established first team players to get new deals since the summer.
On top of that, several youngsters, including Duncan Watmore and Lyndon Gooch, have also netted new deals, whilst an option was taken to extend Vito Mannone's contract too.
There is only really Wes Brown and recent acquisition Anthony Reveillere left waiting on a new deal, and given their ages there is no point in rushing to commit there.
Let's hope the Cattermole report is true and the negotiations smooth. Well, I will, anyway. You lot can suit yourselves.
