A huge Sunderland development has emerged on Anthony Patterson heading into the summer transfer window... 

What's the talk?

According to The Sun's Alan Nixon, the Black Cats are expected to hold talks with the shot-stopper as they want to secure his future at the club with a new contract.

The report claims that they want him to put pen to paper on a long-term extension and will hand him a pay rise as he is currently on 'low wages' with one year left on his deal.

Supporters will be buzzing

The supporters will surely be buzzing with this news as keeping hold of Patterson would be a huge boost heading into the 2022/23 Championship campaign.

He spent the first half of the season behind Hoffmann in the pecking order between the sticks and went out on loan to Notts County for a short spell as he looked to gain first-team experience.

The youngster then came back and grasped his opportunity with both hands as he nailed down his position as the number one in the final few months of 2021/22.

Patterson ended the League One season with 23 appearances under his belt and kept an impressive ten clean sheets as he averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.88. He was able to turn in consistently solid displays in goal as he did not make a single error directly leading to a shot or goal.

Hoffmann, meanwhile, kept eight shutouts in 23 games and averaged a score of 6.82 - making one error directly leading to a goal. This shows that the youngster was able to improve the team by replacing the German as he averaged a higher rating and made fewer mistakes.

His final game of the campaign epitomised his spell in the team as he produced a mature, quality, performance in the play-off final against Wycombe.

As per SofaScore, he saved all three of the shots on his goal, completed one successful punch and two high claims from crosses as he earned a rating of 7.5.

At the age of 22, he has the potential to get better and better over the years and that is why pinning him down to a long-term contract would be a brilliant deal for the club. He has shown that he can excel in the third tier and he now looks set to get the chance to showcase his quality in the Championship next season.

Therefore, keeping him will be a big boost due to his scope for development and fans will be buzzing to see him putting pen to paper on a contract extension for that very reason.

AND in other news, "Will have a conversation..": Major SAFC transfer update emerges that'll excite Neil...