Former Everton defender Morgan Feeney will leave Sunderland when his contract at the League One club expires next month.
The ECHO understands new Sunderland manager Lee Johnson - who replaced Phil Parkinson at the start of December - rates the 21-year-old but cannot offer him a long-term contract as the uncertain financial landscape around coronavirus continues.
Parkinson brought Feeney to the Stadium of Light in the summer and handed him a half-season deal.
The centre-back scored in the EFL Trophy in August before he suffered a hamstring injury in an u-23 fixture he was appearing in to build match fitness.
Feeney returned to find Parkinson axed and he is yet to make an appearance in League One.
Johnson has informed the defender he can speak to clubs before his contract ends in January and it is understood there is interest from the Football League and Scotland.
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Feeney joined Everton as a seven-year-old and twice lifted the Premier League 2 title as captain.
He made his first-team debut against Atalanta in the Europa League in 2017.
