Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet may have to leave the club in order to improve his chances of starting for the Belgium national team, according to his agent Guy Vandersmissen.

The 24-year-old, who has been linked with a switch away from the Stadium of Light, has relinquished his national number one spot to Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois, who is on loan at Atletico Madrid.

"Our ambition is for Simon to play somewhere that he can engage in competition with Thibaut Courtois for the place in goal for Belgium," the Sunderland Echo quotes Vandersmissen as saying. "Courtois is fortunate that he is playing for a team that has been doing well lately."

Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked with moves for the shot-stopper.