Sunderland are in active contract talks with 18-year-old striker Finn Geragusian in an effort to fend off serious interest from Rangers and a number of EFL clubs before his scholarship expires this summer, according to the Echo. There is real pressure on the County Durham-born Sunderland fan, with the club making it clear they want him to stay.
Sunderland struggle to keep youth academy away from Rangers
Gragusian has had two productive seasons at Light Academy. This season, he has 13 goals and 3 assists in 29 games, following 12 goals and 7 assists in 2024-25. A total of 35 goals in 60 academy games over two seasons is a return that explains the club’s focus. He also qualified for Armenia through his father this season, making his debut for the Armenian senior national team, further boosting his profile and capping off a momentous summer for the teenager.
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A thigh injury ended his season prematurely, causing him to miss the Premier League final against Burnley at the Stadium of Light. Given his age and time in the academy, any club wanting to sign him would need to agree a compensation fee with Sunderland or go to court.
Can Sunderland really offer Gragusian a first-team route? Or is that promise now harder to keep?
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – APRIL 12: Sunderland head coach Régis LeBris watches during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light on April 12, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Foster/Getty Images)
Sunderland’s stability in the Premier League has changed that. First-team queues are now longer and tougher, with even the best academy graduates facing an uphill climb to regular playing time. Gragusian is a lively, direct striker whose off-the-ball movement and eye for goal make him an exciting talent. However, his injury record is something to watch and he still needs to prove he can find the same consistency against senior opposition.
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Just trying to keep Gragosian, without a clear path into the first team on loan, might feel like an empty promise. Sunderland need to offer him some concrete, real plans, not just warm words.
The fact that Rangers are interested says it all. Sunderland have a reputation for developing top academy talent and then losing it, and Gragusian is exactly the player they need to protect during this window.
