Exclusive: Out-of-contract striker Benji Kimpioka updates us on his Sunderland future

Out-of-contract Sunderland forward Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka joined our host Jimmy Lowson for the latest edition of the Roker Rapport Podcast to discuss where he stands currently with the club.

During the chat, Kimpioka discussed the latest on his future. Currently out of contract, he has been training with his former side IK Sirius in his homeland, but notes that his Sunderland career may not be over just yet.

The Swedish under-21 international says he, his agent and his family are still negotiating a new deal with the club:

Obviously, I’ve said it many times, Sunderland is a club that I love and obviously as you know my contract is up at the club. Sunderland have offered a contract, which me and my family and my agent have been working on, we are still negotiating the contract, to discuss with my family, for myself what I reckon is the best for all of us.

Although hesitant to go into too much detail about contract details or whether he is in discussions with any other clubs, Kimpioka does say that he is in regular discussions with Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson:

I don’t want to go into much about that, as I said, we are negotiating the contract with my family, my manager too, to find out what’s best for me.

I spoke to the manager Phil, I can’t remember exactly how long ago it was we spoke, maybe I’d say a week or a bit longer than a week, maybe six, five, seven days I spoke to him personally. I’d say around a week to week thing maybe, last week I spoke to him, something like that.

There have been reports that Kimpioka would only re-sign if he was promoted to the first team and the player explains that he does want to play for the first team or if not, to head out on loan but believes in himself enough to push his case for a first team spot:

Obviously I would look to go first team, I have high standards for myself. Even last season I found out I could have played first team if I’d played...if I hadn’t...if I wasn’t...last season was different stuff happening, you know?

I feel I’m ready for first team, you know, push my chances into the team if I play better, you know if not maybe a loan but I could put myself into the team, I believe in myself.

You can listen to the entire interview with Benji Kimpioka for free by subscribing to Roker Rapport podcast on iTunes, Acast, Spotify or YouTube.