It could be a touch frosty at the Academy of Light this week when one of the Sunderland players returns to training.Outcast Jeremain Lens sparked controversy last season when he appeared to suggest it would be easier for him to sort his future out if the club was relegated. As we all know, that sadly became the reality with Sunderland falling out of the Premier League in dismal fashion after a decade at the top table. While Sunderland’s fate was sealed in convincing fashion, Lens’ future remains very much up in the air. He wasn’t part of the squad that travelled to Austria at the weekend for a five-day training camp. There was nothing untoward about that, though, the Dutch winger had simply been given some extra time off after his international commitments at the end of last season. John O’Shea and Didier Ndong were also afforded more time with the trio due back at the Academy of Light this week. Lens took to Instagram this week to post a picture of him in Sunderland training gear from last pre-season with the caption ‘Almost that pre-season time again’. How long he remains a Sunderland player is one of the big talking points. Sunderland have already cashed in on Jordan Pickford to the tune of £30million, while Jermain Defoe has joined Bournemouth and Fabio Borini landed himself a great move to AC Milan. More departures are expected in the coming weeks as Sunderland adjust to life in the Championship and new boss Simon Grayson moulds his own squad in his style. It would be no surprise to see Lamine Kone, Wahbi Khazri and Lens depart Wearside before the curtain raiser against Derby County at the Stadium of Light on August 4. There is strong interest in Lens, especially from Turkey after his very successful loan spell at Fenerbahce last season. Fenerbahce want him back, Besiktas president Fikret Orman has already confirmed his club’s interest while Feyenoord have also been heavily linked. Whether those clubs can come up with a financial package that suits Sunderland - and Lens - remains the big sticking point. Sunderland will want to recoup the majority of the £9million they paid Dynamo Kiev for the Dutch international under Dick Advocaat but with relegation comes the realisation that Sunderland are not in a strong bargaining sense when it comes to selling their players. Though, the club did well to secure a deal worth up to £30million for Pickford, who has a huge future ahead of him. Lens’ future clearly isn’t at Sunderland having previously made it clear his future lies elsewhere. He promised a great deal when he arrived but his performances in a red and white shirt often frustrated, flitting in and out of games. Four goals in 23 games for Sunderland in 2015-16 before featuring in two games at the start of last season before moving to Turkey on loan. No doubt there is a player of high quality in there but the 29-year-old didn’t show it enough. When asked about his future at Fenerbahce earlier this year, Lens was quoted in the Turkish press as saying: “I hope I could get a signature that will allow me to stay here. I do not want to talk about my contract, but many things will be easier if Sunderland drop down. Let’s wait and see.” His comments infuriated then Sunderland boss David Moyes who blasted: “I think it’s disgracefully disrespectful to the club who hold his registration.” Lens returns to Sunderland this week. For how long remains to be seen. Determining his future will be high on Grayson’s ‘To Do’ list but his departure from Wearside seems inevitable.
"Flitting in and out of games" is an understatement. He was ****e IMHO. I never saw anything that would make me want to keep him, although many on here will have seen more of him than me.
This is a transfer that really annoys me He was signed by a manager who (in theory) knew his strengths and weaknesses, and his character How did it escape Advocat that he was such a lazy tw@t with a disgraceful attitude
If he could be bothered to make the effort. I doubt very much that Grayson would want to keep him. He wants players who'll run through walls for him. The guy wants away, let him go. At our price.
Agreed. The positivity that is mentioned on the Back Room Staff thread on here can only prevail and impact upon the playing staff if people like Lens are removed
At least Disco! Just because the lad wants away to a potential Euro-champions league level team doesn't mean we have to bend over and take one up the jacksy!
If Martin Bain can get 30 million for Pickford, 5.3 million for Borini and hold Everton off for Kone. I'm very confident we'll get a decent amount for Lens.
I'm just nervous his attitude leaves him an undesirable signing. If it was me I wouldn't pay any more than 7 for him. He just doesn't turn it on enough.
I havent seen him do anything on or off the pitch to suggest that hes worth even a quater of what we pay him in wages. The bloke is a kunt of the highest order for saying hed like us to go down to enable him to leave easier. I say get rid asap, the last thing our squad need is seeing his miserable face moping round the training pitch.
History is littered with Dutch wingers with immense talent who couldn't be arsed. Elia, Babel, this ****. We need shot of asap.
Hope we hold out for a permanent deal. If we can get £5m+ I'd be happy with that. As of July 1st we'll be paying him over 30k 1 week that we have to shift
He would be a great asset with the right attitude, its easy to blame Big Dick but in the shape of Lens , M'Vila and Toivenen he did bring some talent to the club, shame he hadn't stayed to see the job through, if he had I think we might have moved up a notch instead of falling apart.
Jeremain Lens returned to Sunderland's first training session on Wednesday. The 29-year-old attacker would like to return to Fenerbahçe, but that club will let him wait for the moment. "As long as nothing becomes concrete, I'm still Sunderland player," said Lens vs. FOX Sports. "I have another two-year contract here. I'm going to work hard and do my best, but my interest is somewhere else." Lens was loaned to Fenerbahçe last season. The Turkish top club, in which Robin van Persie and Gregory van der Wiel are also contracted, expressed satisfaction with him and finally to engage the attacker. Then it remained silent. "If Fenerbahçe had been concrete, I'd been there again," responded Lens. "I do not know what the reasons are why no offer has been made. There is only talk, I have nothing on paper." "I want clarity," concluded Lens. "It seems that they have to sell someone first to get me. I read in the media that Fenerbahçe is waiting for me, but I have not seen any offer I can respond to." Thus, lens looks further. "I would like to go back to Fenerbahçe, but if they can not or do not want to act, I'll take other clubs seriously too. There has been some contact left and right, but nothing concrete yet." Dutch clubs do not have to climb the phone right away. "My interest is not going to the Eredivisie now. I want to play football for a couple of years." Other English clubs may also be on the market for Lens. The Orange International has a limited transfer fee in its commitment to Sunderland. If a club places that unknown amount on the table, the Black Cats can not interfere with a transition from Lens to, for example, a competitive club. (FOX Sports)
Let's hope that Dutch clubs climb the phone for him, Grayson and anyone with any sense want players who want to play for Sunderland and it couldn't be any more obvious that Lens doesn't.
I hope someone pulls that ****e shirt over his head and punches his ****ing lights out....... Once we've sold him.
There's no money in Dutch football, mate. I'd be flabbergasted if a team from there were willing to spend 6 or 7 million on him. That would be the full budget for a lot of teams in that league.
A couple of teams seem to really want him so they might stump up the cash even if it is all they have, you never know. I don't see us making our money back on him but over half is doable and should get us someone decent if Grayson gets it.
