Trialists could feature at St Mirren as Cats eye free agents
Owner Stewart Donald has revealed that Sunderland could play a couple of trialists in Saturday’s friendly away to St Mirren.
The Black Cats are trying to strengthen their squad ahead of the start of the League One season, which kicks off against Charlton Athletic on August 4.
Donald, along with head of recruitment Tony Coton and Richard Hill, is pushing to add more quality to Jack Ross’s side, with bids made for strikers Mo Eisa and Charlie Wyke, while Reading midfielder George Evans is in talks over personal terms.
Donald, speaking to
Roker Report, revealed the club are also weighing up moves for three free agents, while they could have two trialists in the team that takes on St Mirren. Former Port Vale forward Anton Forrester has already appeared for the Black Cats on trial against Darlington, and could be handed a second opportunity to impress. Donald said: “There’s a couple of free agents that we are looking at and we have got a couple of players who are coming in who want to prove themselves to us who may feature on Saturday.
“There’s a couple of trialists. I think we have got four bids out and there are three free transfers we are looking at. And we are looking at putting bids out for a couple of others.
“That’s 10 players and I think realistically we will probably get half of those.”
Donald, meanwhile, admitted that, with just over two weeks to the start of the season, and with only two preseason games left, he is getting ‘itchy’ as he looks to bolster Ross’s first-team squad.
He added: “We are deeply into negotiations on four or five players and I’m desperate to get those players in. It’s got to be right on the numbers .
“If I’m honest, we have got two games left and I would ‘ve liked to have had an extra half a dozen players in the team.
“Everyone seems far more relaxed than I am in the football structure. Tony and Richard are taking their time, doing the deals and making sure we’re not paying too much and I’m like a cat on a hot tin roof. You don’t want them halfway through August or right on deadline day. I’m starting to get a bit itchy.”