Sunderland striker Trey Ogunsuyi has reportedly emerged as a target for Liverpool in recent weeks
Sunderland is no stranger to a promising adolescent talent. The Black Cats are the Championship’s youngest roster, and several young players have established themselves as first-team regulars in recent seasons.
With that in mind, it’s always worth keeping an eye on the academy; in fact, the next name off Sunderland’s apparently never-ending conveyor belt may be Trey Ogunsuyi, the potential centre-forward who has been making headlines for the U21s this season.
Despite having yet to make his senior debut, the 18-year-old is gaining notice, and not only on Wearside. According to rumors, the prodigy is a target for Premier League club Liverpool, which has sent scouts to watch him several times over the last 18 months.
But who is Ogunsuyi, and what have Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris and U21s manager Graeme Murty said about his chances at the Stadium of Light? Here’s everything you need know…
Who is Trey Ogunsuyi?
Ogunsuyi, an 18-year-old striker, has recently grabbed the interest of Sunderland’s U21s. The Belgian youth international has been in excellent form at youth level this season, and he has appeared in Regis Le Bris’ senior matchday squad on several occasions – but he has yet to make his first team debut at the time of writing.
Ogunsuyi joined the Black Cats at the age of ten and has quickly progressed through the club’s academy system, debuting for the U18s during the 2022/23 season and quickly moving on to the U21 squad. Since then, he has signed his first professional contract with Wearside, which is set to last until 2026.
What has Regis Le Bris said about Trey Ogunsuyi?
Sunderland head coach Le Bris indicated in a recent press conference that the young striker is in the best position to continue his personal development. He’s extremely young, and Riggy, Tommy [Watson], and Jobe are definitely the best role models to follow in our club. When you go to another club with a quality squad, you must find the ideal environment in which to improve yourself.
“I’m not sure [what will happen]. Social media and other platforms can say a lot, but in the end, if we build the appropriate environment and the player, his family, and agents are sensible, we will be in a good position to design the best path for him.”
When asked when Ogunsuyi could make his first-team debut on Wearside, Le Bris replied, “I don’t know exactly; it’s a question of opportunities.” He’s attended training sessions, so we now know each other and he knows the group. Sometimes you have to wait, and it could happen after two or three games. “He is close to the group.”
What has Graeme Murty said about Trey Ogunsuyi?
Speaking after a recent goal-scoring performance in a U21s encounter against Manchester City, Murty praised Ogunsuyi’s talent while also urging patience in the teenager’s development. The academy coach stated: “He appears to be a threat. He looks like he’s about to score. There are many things we need to clean up for him. I believe he will think he could have gotten another one. He was unlucky with the one that struck the post.
“We need him to be much more consistent in his availability for the ball and the team. Because when he is, he makes a great focus point. But he is a very young man. He has only just turned 18. So we have to be very careful not to place too many expectations on him. Allow him to mature at his own pace and continue to support his development, and I believe he’s showing some really promising indicators.”
When asked how excited he was about Ogunsuyi’s form, Murty responded, “I’m excited for all of them. The squad is full of quality. So there are a lot of people in there that I believe have the ability to play adult football, specifically on a men’s squad. There are certainly some issues we need to work out with them all. But overall, I believe the ensemble is fairly good. I simply wish they believed as much as I do.”
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