Sunderland have confirmed that Jack Baldwin has joined Salford City on a season-long loan.
The 26-year-old made 41 appearances for Sunderland across all competitions last year, as per Transfermarkt, but it looks as though he will finish this season without having played a single League One match:
@JackBaldwin_6 has completed a loan move to @SkyBetLeagueTwo club @SalfordCityFC.
Best of luck, Jack! #SAFC
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) September 2, 2019
Baldwin’s only appearance of this campaign came in the 3-1 Carabao Cup win against Burnley, in which he gave a good showing to help Sunderland pull off the Premier League scalp, with the defender getting a rating of 7.2 from SofaScore.
During the match, he made an incredible 13 clearances, blocked two shots, won 10 aerial duels and two ground duels, while also making three interceptions.
There will have been many Sunderland fans who expected this showing to push him up Jack Ross’ pecking order of centre-backs, but it has instead merely helped him out of the door on a temporary basis.
A selection of Twitter reaction to the loan, including posts from bemused Sunderland fans, can be seen below:
Pathetic
— SAFC DAVID (@DavidHindmarsh7) September 2, 2019
WHAT!!!??!??
— Jake (@Jake71121606) September 2, 2019
We are falling apart
— (@MagicMaguire_) September 2, 2019
Awful business what on Earth are you doing
— Ben Craig (@BenCra1g) September 2, 2019
Do we have a recall clause/swap for Flanagan clause?
— Charlie Pele Hodgson (@chodgson2002) September 2, 2019
Terrible decision to let him go
— James (@JRGreen99) September 2, 2019
Sunderland fans, do you think loaning out Baldwin was the correct decision? Join the discussion by commenting below…
