Sunderland player's contract revelation ahead of reopening of summer window
CALLUM STYLES admits he does not know whether Sunderland intend to turn his loan deal from Barnsley into a permanent transfer this summer.
Styles moved to Wearside from Oakwell in January, with his initial loan deal running to the end of the season.
When announcing the completion of the loan switch, Sunderland revealed they had inserted a clause into the agreement that enables them to complete a permanent transfer when the window reopens later this summer.
However, while Styles has made a positive impression in the last three months, making ten senior appearances in a number of different positions, he is yet to discover whether he will be offered a permanent deal at the Stadium of Light.
“I’ve had no discussions,” said Styles, who started at left wing-back in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Millwall before switching into a central-midfield role in the second half. “I’m just focusing on football, that’s for other people to discuss.”
Styles had hoped to be involved in a promotion push when he agreed to move to the North-East on deadline-day at the start of February.
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Instead, he has found himself featuring in a Sunderland side that has tumbled down the Championship table, with the hasty departure of Michael Beale preceding the appointment of Mike Dodds as interim head coach.
“When I first came, there was a lot of injuries and a lot of players missing,” said Styles. “There was a lot of chopping and changing with managers, and players getting injured. It’s been a bit of a rough road, but we have a lot of ability in the squad. Next season, we’ve got to push on.
“There’s not been any continuity. We didn’t achieve what we wanted to achieve as a group this season, but we’ve just got to crack on and keep going.”