Manager says ‘tremendous’ Sunderland-linked player is likely to leave for free in summer

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A player Sunderland were linked with in January is looking “less and less likely” to stay with his current club beyond the end of the season.

In the winter transfer window, the Black Cats reportedly enquired about St Johnstone defender Scott Tanser.

The 26-year-old left-back has made more than 130 appearances for the Scottish Premiership side since joining the club in 2017.

He came through the academies at Blackpool and Burnley as a youngster, and made his breakthrough at Rochdale before moving north of the border.

Tanser’s contract expires at the end of the season and, according to The Courier, talks began to extend his contract over two months ago but have come to nothing.

Although manager Callum Davidson hasn’t given up all hope, he admits it’s becoming increasingly likely that the full-back will up sticks in the summer.

“I think so,” the Saints boss told The Courier. “It’s looking less and less likely in our favour.

“We’ve tried our best to keep him but at the moment he’s not given us any positive signs that he wants to stay… these things can change quickly, though.”

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Under Lee Johnson, Sunderland have improved massively and are now very much in the race for automatic promotion.

Should the Black Cats succeed in reaching the Championship, then Tanser, an experienced and talented left-back who Davidson has previously described as “tremendous”, would be a great shout for them.