Who is Dion Sanderson? The Wolves defender on loan at Sunderland linked with Sheffield United

The 21-year-old scored his first professional goal in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Rochdale and has helped the Black Cats to seven clean sheets in his 18 appearances to date, picking up several man of the match awards in the process.

Here’s everything you need to know.

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Who is he and what position does he play?

Sanderson is a centre-half and has starred at the heart of Sunderland’s defence in recent weeks.

He also helped Wolves under-23s win the Premier League 2 Division 2 title in the 2018/19 season and has made one competitive appearance at Molineux in a League Cup defeat against Aston Villa in 2019.

He has previously played at right back – including during a 10-game loan spell at Cardiff City in the Sky Bet Championship last season – but Sunderland boss Lee Johnson insisted centre-half is his position.

What’s his contact situation?

Sanderson’s current contract expires next summer – he signed an extension at the beginning of this season - so a transfer fee would almost certainly be involved as Wolves’ owners Fosun seek a return on a player who has been with his hometown club since the age of eight.

Who else is interested?

Who isn’t, rather?

New Sunderland boss Lee Johnson has already expressed his interested in a permanent move.

The Black Cats could be in the same league as Sheffield United next season after resurrecting their season following a change of management. They are comfortably nested in the League One play-off spots and five points off automatic promotion.

Several other Premier League and Championship clubs are also reportedly keen, including Brighton, Crystal Palace, Bristol City and Huddersfield.

United’s neighbours Sheffield Wednesday have also been linked with him, as have Cardiff City.

What has the player himself said?

Unsurprisingly, he hasn’t given much away.

Speaking after Saturday’s win, he told Sunderland Echo: "For the time being I'm just enjoying my football really - taking it game by game, winning and enjoying it.

"I haven't really thought much of it, it's just enjoying my football."