---
title: "Sunderland: Portsmouth and Oxford want former Black Cats midfielder Ethan Robson"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-ethan-robson-portsmouth-oxford-transfer-interest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Crump"
section: "League One News"
published: "2020-07-30T07:30:14Z"
modified: "2020-07-30T07:30:14Z"
---

# Sunderland: Portsmouth and Oxford want former Black Cats midfielder Ethan Robson

**Portsmouth and Oxford have pushed forward with their respective interest in signing former Sunderland midfielder Ethan Robson, according to [Football Insider.](https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-portsmouth-oxford-set-sights-on-signing-midfielder-who-has-just-quit-sunderland/)**

Upon leaving the Stadium of Light at the end of the 2019/20 season, the 23-year-old midfielder ended a [16-year](https://www.safc.com/players/1st-team/ethan-robson) stint at the club which saw him make a total of [14 first team appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ethan-robson/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/258199) and [62 for the club’s under-23 side.](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ethan-robson/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/258199)

Spending part of the 2019/20 season on loan with League Two side [Grimsby Town](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49552733), Robson is now a free agent and said to be gaining [interest](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/ethan-robson-attracting-league-one-interest-outlines-key-factor-opening-summer-transfer-market-2899798) from a number of clubs.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

With that previously reported interest, it has now been claimed by [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-portsmouth-oxford-set-sights-on-signing-midfielder-who-has-just-quit-sunderland/) that Portsmouth and Oxford are keen to make a summer move for Robson.

Both clubs narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship earlier this month, having [fallen in the play-offs](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/league-one-play-offs/startseite/wettbewerb/POG3/saison_id/2019), and both are now seemingly keen to bolster their respective squads ahead of next season.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

It does seem strange that Sunderland allowed Robson to leave, thus presenting League One rivals Portsmouth and Oxford the chance to sign him. Those two clubs [both finished ahead of the Black Cats](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/league-one/tabelle/wettbewerb/GB3/saison_id/2019) in the hunt for play-off places in 2019/20.

All three teams will be expecting to produce a promotion push next season and it will be interesting to see who Robson opts to join – and whether he will make Sunderland rue their decision to let him leave.

***Do you think Sunderland should make a move to re-sign Robson? Let us know in the comments section below…***