SUNDERLAND FACING BATTLE TO KEEP HAWKES

League One giants Sunderland are reportedly facing a big battle to keep promising attacking midfielder Josh Hawkes at the club with teams keen to sign the player this summer. Hawkes has been used mostly in the Sunderland youth team since moving to the club last year after a three-year stint at Hartlepool. He was the main man for the Sunderland u-23s as they narrowly missed out on promotion in Premier League 2 Division 2.

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Hawkes scored 14 goals plus seven assists for Sunderland in the Premier League 2 Division 2 during the just concluded season. He had earlier made his Sunderland debut in the EFL Trophy outing with Fleetwood Town last year.

Sunderland manager Lee Johnson has already overseen the imminent exit of many players this summer as he looks to build a squad capable of winning Championship promotion next season. The Sunderland boss would be hoping to integrate Hawkes into his first team though the 39-year-old has to make sure that he repels the interest in his young midfielder from other teams.

East Anglia Times has already confirmed the interest of fellow League One club Ipswich Town in Hawkes as manager Paul Cook assembles a squad capable of securing a spot in the Championship next season. Hawkes didn’t get much playing time last season but that could change in the new season especially with fellow midfielders like Chris Maguire and Jordan Jones expected to leave the Black Cats when their respective deals expire in the coming days.

Hawkes has one year left on his Sunderland contract and the Black Cats risk losing him this summer for a fee or next summer for free if they don’t give him an assurance of more playing time in the first team.

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