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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.
(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.
Sunderland paid Manchester City the princely sum of £10million to sign Jack Rodwell in the summer transfer window of 2014.
It was widely viewed at the time as a smart investment by the Black Cats for the midfielder, who had failed to see regular action at the Etihad Stadium.
Rodwell was viewed as one of the country’s brightest prospects when he emerged through Everton’s academy before sealing a £12m switch to big-spending City in 2012.
It was hoped the switch to Sunderland would reinvigorate his career.
However, Rodwell’s spell at the Stadium of Light has been little short of a disaster.
How much does Jack Rodwell earn at Sunderland?
Rodwell has 18 months left on the five-year contract he signed upon his move to Sunderland in 2014.
Sunderland have offered to rip up the contract of £10million midfielder Jack Rodwell.
The 26-year-old still has 18 months to run on the £70,000-per-week deal he signed when he joined from Manchester City in 2014.
But the Black Cats are desperate to offload Rodwell and, after the former England international asked to leave the club this month, they told him he was free to go, although there would be no pay-off.
Jack Rodwell has been told he is free to leave Sunderland after failing to impress
RODWELL'S CAREER 2007–2012: Everton 2012–2014: Manchester City 2014– : Sunderland
That would mean Rodwell forgoing around £5m in wages and it is unlikely he will agree to leave without some form of financial settlement.
Sunderland, though, cannot afford to do that and there remains a chance that Rodwell will continue to pick up his sizeable salary while not featuring for Chris Coleman's first-team.
There was no relegation clause in Rodwell's contract and he was the only player who did not take a pay cut following last season's demotion.
Likewise, were they to drop out of the Championship this year - they are currently bottom - he would be picking up £70,000 per week in League One.
The former Manchester City midfielder is all smiles on his arrival at Sunderland back in 2014
Rodwell's time at the club has been a disaster and only once has he started a league game which Sunderland have won.
Coleman has not used Rodwell since his appointment in November and it is thought within the club that he is not doing enough to make himself available for selection.
This latest development marks a fall from grace for a player once tipped as a future England captain when he broke into Everton's team at just 16.
But Rodwell has been plagued by injuries and has started just 51 league games since leaving Everton for Manchester City nearly six years ago.
Jack Rodwell has not played a first-team game since September
Sunderland have offered to cancel Jack Rodwell's contract after their highest-paid player asked to leave, Sky sources understand.
The cash-strapped Championship side are willing to cancel his £70,000-a-week deal and let him leave for free.
However, the 26-year-old and his agent are yet to respond to the club's offer as they decide their next steps.
Sky Sports News understands the player had hoped to negotiate a pay-off but has been made aware Sunderland cannot afford such an agreement.
Rodwell has started in a winning Sunderland team only once in nearly four years
Cancelling his contract would mean Rodwell would walk away from future earnings of over £5m, and Sunderland would, in turn, waive receiving a transfer fee.
Sunderland signed Rodwell from Manchester City for £10m three years ago.
The 26-year-old has only featured in three matches this season, and he has only once been on a winning Sunderland side in a match in which he has started.
He was the only Sunderland player not to have a relegation clause in his contract, meaning he has been earning more than double of any of his team-mates, despite being consistently injured.
Sky Sports News understands there is a feeling within Sunderland that Rodwell could be doing more to make himself available to play as they battle at the foot of the Championship under Chris Coleman.
