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.

Rodwell needs to kick-start his career (
Image:
Ian Horrocks)

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.

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