An update has emerged about Wolves centre-back Dion Sanderson, it could affect Sunderland's transfer plans this summer.

What's the talk?

According to the Sheffield Star, Slavisa Jokanovic has identified Sunderland target Dion Sanderson as a player he would like to bring to Brammal Lane this summer. Jokanovic has drawn up a list of transfer targets for the Sheffield United board and Sanderson is one of the players he is hoping to land.

Earlier this month, Football Insider claimed that Wolves are now ready to sell Sanderson on a permanent basis and would like £2m for his services. The report stated that Sunderland are keen on signing the centre-back for a second spell at the Stadium of Light and believe personal relationships could help get a deal over the line.

Back in February of this year, Sunderland boss Lee Johnson hailed Sanderson as a “Rolls-Royce" of a defender for his age. He told Chronicle Live:

"I've been very impressed with him, he's really stepped up.

"He's recognised that Bailey Wright is out, and that he needs to up it another five or six percent and talk to the players around him.

"He has got a really good attitude, and it's consistent with his personality.

"He's a centre-half and at his age level he is an absolute Rolls-Royce."

Fans will be fuming

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is facing a disaster with this transfer saga and it will leave fans fuming. The Black Cats have had the inside track on Sanderson after working with him throughout the 2020/21 campaign and they are now allowing other clubs to join the race and diminish their chances of signing him permanently.

Instead of acting quickly, as soon as Johnson made it clear that he would like Sanderson to return, Speakman has seemingly been slow out of the blocks and it could now lead to the 'Rolls-Royce' moving elsewhere.

Sanderson now has suitors from the Championship and that could appeal to him more than a transfer back down to League One. Sheffield United have just been relegated from the Premier League and have a manager in Jokanovic who has been promoted to the top-flight twice in his career, with Fulham and Watford. This means that Sanderson could have the opportunity to join an exciting project in Sheffield, with the prospect of playing Premier League football in the 2022/23 campaign being a more than realistic target for the Blades.

The £2m beast impressed during his loan stint with Sunderland. He averaged an impressive WhoScored rating of 6.88 in 17 starts at centre-back, showing his consistency and quality despite only turning 21 last December.

Given that Speakman has had since the end of last season to negotiate a deal with Wolves and has been unable, or unwilling, to do so, Sunderland fans will be fuming that he has not acted quicker to make sure that other clubs are not able to swoop in and snap him up.

AND in other news, Speakman heading for big error if SAFC land £1.5k-p/w dud, fans would be livid...