The lowdown on Black Cats’ priorities in the transfer market
While there were some encouraging signs from Sunderland’s pre-season training camp in Portugal over the last week – there are still some key areas to address in the Black Cats squad.
Alex Neil’s side produced a controlled 45-minute performance against Rangers on Saturday, before holding their ownforlargespellsagainstRoma four days later.
So, following the arrivals of Daniel Ballard and Jack Clarke this summer, where do Sunderlandstandinthetransfer market with just over two weeks until the start of the new Championship season? We take a closer look at their main priorities.
Another striker
Alex Neil spoke about the squad’s lack of striker options after the Roma game, admitting: “We need to add to that area, plain and simple.”
Aside from Ross Stewart, who missed the Roma game with a minor injury, the Black Cats don’t have another recognised frontman at senior level.
That was emphasised against the Italian side as LeonDajakuwasaskedtoleadthe line and, albeit against strong opposition,Sunderlandlacked a focal point.
The dilemma Sunderland have is they are looking for someone who can operate alongsideStewart,probablyas a wide forward, but also someone who could play instead of theScotifhebecomesunavailable.
Nathan Broadhead appeared to fit that description duringhisloanspellfromEverton last season, yet his injury setbacks meant the Black Cats were still over reliant on Stewart.
Sunderland are interested in re-signing Broadhead but may have to wait for a decision untillaterinthewindow,asthe 24-year-old has travelled with theToffeessquadfortheirpreseason tour of America
Another loan move may alsoprovecomplicatedasBroadhead only has a year left on his contract at Goodison Park.
Tottenham’sTroyParrottis another player who could provideaversatileforwardoption, with Spurs looking to loan the 20-year-old out for another season following a spell at MK Dons last term.
They will have to weigh up what is the best option for the young striker, who has travelled with the squad for their pre-season tour of South Korea.
The left side of defence
AnotherplayerSunderland have become over reliant on is Dennis Cirkin.
Despite experiencing a dip in form, like the rest of the team, midway through the 2021/22campaign,the20-yearold performed admirably during his first season as a senior player.
Still, with Niall Huggins set to miss the start of next season due to his ongoing injury setback, Cirkin remains the only senior left-back in the squad.
Sunderland also appear to be short of a left-sided centreback following Callum Doyle’s return to Manchester City, so finding someone who could play both roles would be hugely beneficial.
Ballard often played on the right of a back three for Millwall last season, while Danny Batth and Bailey Wright are also more comfortable on that side.
Luke O’Nien and Carl Winchester played at centre-back against Rangers and Roma respectively, yet having four natural central defenders would be preferable.
Goalkeeper
While academy graduate Anthony Patterson has strengthened his claim to be Sunderland’sfirst-choicegoalkeeper this season, the departuresofLeeBurgeandThorben Hoffmann mean the club will have to sign at least one more option.
Patterson made some crucial saves in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign as he startedeverygameunderAlex Neil, showing improvements in his game following a second loan spell at National League side Notts County.
Still, the 22-year-old remains unproven at Championship level. Ideally Sunderland will be able to sign someone with second-tier experience
who could take the pressure offifPatterson’sformdoesdip.
Sunderland have planned to send under-23s goalkeeper Jacob Carney out on loan, yet they will need to sign another senior option first.
Otherareastostrengthen
Sunderland now appear to have strong options in the attacking midfield positions, so it was slightly surprising to see them pursue a move for AFC Wimbledon’s Jack Rudoni this summer.
Clearly Rudoni, who now looks set to join Huddersfield, is a player the Black Cats have been tracking for some time, and is an emerging talent who
scored 12 goals and registered five assists for a struggling League One side last season.
Still, with Alex Pritchard, Elliot Embleton, Patrick Roberts,JackClarke,LeonDajaku, Lynden Gooch and Jack Diamond all available in the wide orattackingmidfieldpositions, it doesn’t seem like such a significant blow.
Sunderland were also said to be interested in Brighton attacker Reda Khadra, though Sheffield United are in pole positiontosignthe21-year-old.
Khadra can also play as a winger or attacking midfielder,somaybetheBlackCatswill still look to recruit another
player in that area.
Sunderland also appear well stocked in central midfield, with Corry Evans, Jay Matete,DanNeil,O’Nien,Winchester and Embleton all capable of playing there in Neil’s prefered 4-2-3-1 system.
You could argue the side may struggle if Evans became unavailable in the deep-lying role, yet Neil did deploy Matete in that position against Roma.
Right-back is another position which could be viewed as an area which could be improved, even if Winchester and Gooch have performed well in that role over the last 12 months.