Sunderland Echo

Will they or won’t they? We rate the rumours around Cats ‘targets’

- Joe Nicholson Football Writer @joe_nicholson9­6

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.

 ?? ?? Daniel Jebbison.
Daniel Jebbison.

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