Norwich City set to swoop for talented Sunderland youngster Bali Mumba

Mumba, 18, has long been considered one of the finest talents in the Sunderland academy and broke through into the senior set-up in 2018.

The two clubs have been in talks for a number of weeks over a potential deal, which is likely to comprise an initial fee and a number of performance related add-ons.

A total deal in the region of £500,000 is believed to have been discussed.

No deal has been finalised at this stage but it seems increasingly likely that Mumba's time on Wearside is drawing to a conclusion.

He currently has one year left on his first professional contract and despite a lack of senior action this season, the youth international remains a prodigious talent and one of the club's biggest assets.

Mumba made his debut in May 2018, when he replaced John O'Shea in the final match of the Championship season against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He went on to make a major impression on new manager Jack Ross, and started the first two games of Sunderland's first League One campaign.

Opportunities were not as regular after the return of Lee Cattermole and the purchase of Max Power, but he remained a relatively regular figure in matchday squads under Ross.

This season he has only one EFL trophy appearance to his name, but the deal will come as a further blow to supporters, who have seen a number of the academy's best talents depart in recent times.

Joe Hugill is set to join Manchester United, linking up with Logan Pye, who made the same move a matter of months ago.

The likes of Luca Stephenson, Sam Greenwood, Luke Hewitson and Morten Spencer have all also departed since Stewart Donald took ownership of the club.

Mumba has played most of his football this season in a struggling U23 side amid debate over his future position.

Having broken through as a central midfielder, he has recently played most of his football at right-back.

With Benji Kimpioka all but certain to leave the club in the coming weeks, it leaves the U23 side facing a major rebuild.

Sunderland’s new CEO, Jim Rodwell, was challenged on the issue of academy sales at a meeting with key supporter groups on Friday.

Notes from the Red & White Army said that Rodwell insisted there were currently no plans to scale back the category one academy.

The notes read: “Supporters challenged club officials on the performance of the academy and the recent cases of selling our best young talent.

“Jim Rodwell stated that they have to balance investment in the first team with investment in the academy. There are no plans to scale back or mothball the academy but all options will have to be considered. RAWA reminded the club of how integral the academy is to the future of the football club.”

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