Jack Rodwell has been told he can leave Sunderland for nothing — if he agrees to give up £5.4million in wages.
The Black Cats have offered to tear up the remaining 18 months on the midfielder’s £70,000-a-week contract in a bid to help the 26-year-old kick-start a career that has stalled badly on Wearside.
Sunderland are willing to waive a transfer fee for the former Everton trainee, who has made just 44 league starts since a £10m move from Manchester City in 2014. But despite raking in more than £11m in wages at the Stadium Of Light, Rodwell could yet scupper the deal by demanding a seven-figure pay-off.
That could well see him sit tight for the remainder of his current deal as the club’s highest-paid player, who has made just one Championship start this season. Rodwell has become a hate figure for fans who claim he is bleeding the club dry with little return on the pitch.
Boss Chris Coleman is desperately trying to offload Rodwell and fellow high earners Lamine Kone and Didier Ndong in a bid to free up the wage bill for more loan arrivals.