A major call has been made on Sunderland dynamo Aiden McGeady regarding his future at the club...

What's the talk?

According to The Sun, the Black Cats are set to part ways with the former Republic of Ireland international at the end of the season.

Kristjaan Speakman is poised to wield his axe over McGeady, Lee Burge and Lynden Gooch as he looks to trim down the club's wage bill heading into the 2022/23 campaign, regardless of whether or not they seal promotion up to the Championship.

Gutted

This update will surely leave Sunderland fans gutted, irrespective of whether or not it is the right call for Speakman to make.

McGeady has enjoyed a fantastic spell with the club as an individual, despite the relegation to League One and failures to jump back up to the second tier. In five years on Wearside, he has played 149 matches and produced 36 goals and 34 assists, showing that he has been lethal in the final third with his ability to create moments of magic for the Black Cats.

Last season, he racked up four goals and an incredible 14 assists in 29 League One matches for Sunderland despite being well into his 30s. His quality has stood the test of time and he has been a consistent threat for the side over the years, although it may now be the best time for him to move on.

He has not played for the club since November due to injury and he will be 36 by the time the season draws to a close. Therefore, it could be the perfect opportunity to move him on and replace him with a younger player with the potential to be the next McGeady rather than dwelling in the past.

This is why Speakman's decision may be the right one, but that does not mean that the call will not cause fans to be upset. They will surely be gutted to see such an "unbelievable" - as dubbed by David Meyler - player depart after half a decade at the Stadium of Light.

The supporters may have enjoyed the dynamo's wing wizardry for Sunderland and will be frustrated that they will not be able to see him in action again after this season. However, football moves on and his exit will pave the way for a new hero to, hopefully, emerge next year.

AND in other news,  Speakman avoided huge £6m SAFC transfer nightmare in January, he's Will Grigg 2.0...