- Isidor falls down pecking order
- Other Premier League clubs wants Sunderland striker
- Key figure in Haiti’s World Cup campaign
Wilson Isidor’s future at Sunderland looks uncertain after a season of only 11 Premier League starts.
It is unfortunate to see Wilson Isidor caught up in a summer transfer tug-of-war as the season draws to a close.
A few weeks on the bench have prompted the player and his agents to consider a move.
For now, it is only an expressed desire from the player’s camp. Whether the move materializes will depend on both parties reaching a conclusive agreement, with the transfer fee being the key ingredient.
Here is a look at Isidor’s journey and how significant he has been to the Black Cats’ campaign so far.
Isidor falls down pecking order
Five months without a Premier League start have pushed the 25-year-old Haiti striker Wilson Isidor to look for a new challenge away from Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Isidor was instrumental in Sunderland’s promotion to the top flight and had hoped to reignite his career in the North East during the second half of the season. Instead he has been largely unused as a substitute.
Manager Regis Le Bris has favoured Brian Brobbey up front since Isidor’s last league start in early December. Despite that, Isidor still leads Sunderland’s squad for minutes-per-goal with five league goals this season.
An extension to his contract, which runs until 2028, was proposed earlier in the campaign when Sunderland were performing well, but no agreement was reached.
Other Premier League clubs wants Sunderland striker
According to Charlie Gordon, Sunderland rejected bids for Wilson Isidor last summer and were prepared to sell him in January, but their £25m valuation put off potential suitors.
Everton and Nottingham Forest enquired about a permanent transfer before Crystal Palace and Burnley explored a loan move in the final days of the window, though neither deal materialised before the deadline. It is unclear if any of the four will renew their interest in the coming weeks.
Sunderland bosses may now have to lower their asking price ahead of the summer window when offers for the out-of-favour attacker will be considered.
The club originally signed Isidore on loan from Zenit in summer 2024 before making the move permanent for a seven-figure fee in February 2025. He was Sunderland’s top scorer in their 2024-25 Championship promotion season and scored against Coventry in the play-offs, then netted four times in his first nine Premier League games.
Key figure in Haiti’s World Cup campaign
Just 36 days until the 2026 World Cup kicks off in Mexico, Canada and the United States, Isidor will feel unfortunate not to be in peak form. Haiti face a tough Group C that includes five-time world champions Brazil, Morocco and Scotland.
Although he is struggling for minutes at club level, Haiti manager Sebastien Migne will likely look beyond his current woes. Isidor has already shown he can lead the Grenadiers’ front line. In only two caps for Haiti he has scored once, netting against Iceland in an international friendly.
With Isidor’s Premier League experience and considerable European experience, it would be a setback for Migne to omit him from the final World Cup squad. Honestly, it would be a gamble for Haiti if Isidor does not make the cut, given the calibre of opponents they will meet in the group stage.
Is releasing Isidor worth the gamble for Sunderland this summer?
Absolutely not. Considering Sunderland’s position and how well they performed in the first half of the season, Isidor’s contribution cannot be underestimated based on the numbers he has produced.
Sunderland’s chances of European football may be slim, but a demanding domestic schedule suggests the Black Cats should retain him, as he has already proven his worth.
The club may pursue several new signings in the summer, but that does not make letting Wilson Isidor go a wise decision. That is, if manager Regis Le Bris resolves the issues between them.
