Will they or won’t they? We rate the rumours around Cats ‘targets’
Sunderland have already completed one signing this month – with other players continuously being linked with moves to the Stadium of Light.
After Northern Irish rightback Trai Hume signed a fourand-a-half-year deal with the BlackCats,bringinginanother striker is now the priority for head coach Lee Johnson.
Sunderland are also short of options in central midfield and are in the market for another playmaker.
An additional centre-back may also be needed if Frederik Alves, as expected, returns to parent club West Ham United due to his lack of gametime.
Here,wehavetakenacloser lookatsomeoftheplayersSunderland have been linked with this month and the chances of them moving to Wearside...
Patrick Roberts (Manchester City) - Roberts will be out of contract at Manchester City in the summer and is expected to be recalled from a loan spell at French side Troyes.It’sunderstoodthe24-yearold is one of several attacking midfielders on Sunderland’s radar, though a loan or permanentmovewouldhavecomplications.
DanielJebbison(Sheffield United) - Sunderland were in talks with the Sheffield United striker in the summer, before theysignedNathanBroadhead and Jebbison subsequently moved to Burton Albion on loan.Jebbisonhasbeenrotated in and out of the Burton team but could be handed a more
prominent role if the Brewers sell Kane Hemmings this month.
MacauleyBonne(QPR) -It wasclaimedthatbothSunderland and Wigan Athletic were monitoring the 24-year-old striker, who has impressed on loan at Ipswich Town this season. Yet, while Sunderland are in the market for a striker, a move to the Stadium of Light seems unlikely. Bonne is an Ipswich
fan and has expressed his desire to stay at Portman Road for the remainder of the campaign.
Freddie Ladapo (Rotherham) - Another striker who has been linked with the Black Cats. Ladapo has handed in a transfer request at Rotherham United, yet Millers boss Paul Warne has recently said there have been no offers. The 28-year-old will be out of contract in the summer, though Rotherham do have a one-year extension so won't sell on the cheap - especially to a promotion rival.
Cameron Archer (Aston Villa) - The 20-year-old forward has just signed a new contract at Aston Villa and is the type of player Sunderland would be looking to sign on loan. A couple of Championship clubs, including Preston
North End and Derby County, have also been linked with the paceystrikerthough,whileVillamaywanttokeephimiftheir squad becomes stretched.
JonsonClarke-Harris(Peterborough United) - While it was reported that Sunderland are interested in the Peterborough striker, it was also claimed he would cost around £6million - an unrealistic sum for the Black Cats to pay. Peterborough’s
director of football Barry Fry has since said there has been no contact from Sunderlandregardingthestriker's availability.
MarcLeonard(Brighton)Sunderlandwerecreditedwith interestinthecentralmidfielder last year and are short of options in the middle of the park. A loan move for the 20-yearold may be viable, yet the Black Cats already have five loanees.