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Leaving so soon? Deal or no deal week at Sunderland; is this a hint one player is set to depart?

Last week David Moyes indicated he would be discussing new deals with the eight Sunderland players out of contract this summer before Saturday's final home game of the season. Has one of them just dropped a massive hint that he will be one who isn't staying?

Middlesbrough v Sunderland - Premier League Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

With eight Sunderland players out of contract this summer, and the league in which the club will play next season having been made certain for a fortnight already, David Moyes indicated he would be discussing new deals or exit terms with the affected individuals this week.

Sunderland v West Ham United - Premier League Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images

And one of them has uploaded a series of photos to their social media account this evening to suggest they're packing up ready to depart already.

Sunderland may still have a further three games to play and a final home game of the season to come on Saturday, but it doesn't appear to have prevented Victor Anichebe from getting his stuff together.

The powerful Nigerian striker has presented these images to the world this evening.

Gosh, don't you just hate it when your designated shoe suitcase is too small to fit all of your pairs in?

Anichebe joined Sunderland after the summer transfer deadline had passed last year in a freebie deal hooking back up with David Moyes, the manager with whom he had spent several seasons at Everton.

And after a prolonged initial period in which the striker sought to hit peak match fitness, the 28-year-old made an instant impact in the Black Cats' side with his first start for Sunderland inspiring David Moyes' maiden league win of the campaign at Bournemouth in November.

AFC Bournemouth v Sunderland - Premier League
Anichebe powered Sunderland to a first win of the season at Bournmouth in November
Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images

Seizing on the impact that Anichebe brought to the team, Sunderland hit a rare sequence of form in the Premier League after that with three wins in six games.

A spate of injuries then plagued the big hitman and with his absence, so did Sunderland's fleeting ability to win points. Anichebe only managed 24 minutes as 2017 dawned until a return to the side in April for the trip to Leicester.

And he hasn't looked the same player on his return. Patently not fully fit when he was drafted back in for the crucial run-in set of fixtures, Anichebe has laboured and Sunderland have continued to mis-fire.

Sunderland v Manchester United - Premier League Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

But most observers expected that he would stay at the Stadium of Light for a shot at the Championship. Anichebe would terrify defenders in the second-tier and likely hit a few goals.

There might be nothing in it of course. But uploading pictures of a major packing exercise on the eve of a final home game of the season will set tongues wagging. Who else might be sorting their trainer collection this evening? Or is Victor merely moving house?

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