Sunderland face threat from rivals for targets
Sunderland and Ipswich Town will be promotion rivals on the pitch this season – and they are battling for signings off it.
The Black Cats have so far added central defender Bailey Wright and forward Aiden O’Brien to the squad ahead of the September 12 start in League One, with Phil Parkinson known to want another five signings.
Left-back Luke Garbutt is a target, as revealed by this paper last week, with Parkinson keen to bolster his options in that area of the pitch.
Ipswich Town, who had him on loan last season, are also keen to land the former Everton defender on a permanent contract.
But both clubs face competition from elsewhere, including interest from the Championship.
Former Sunderland striker Danny Graham continues to be linked with a move back to the Stadium of Light following his departure from Blackburn Rovers.
The East Anglian Daily Times report Ipswich are also keen on the experienced striker – t he free agent was initially brought to Rovers by current Town boss Paul Lambert in 2016.
Me anwhile, a key priority for Parkinson this window is to bring in another senior goalkeeper following Jon McLaughlin’s move to Rangers, and the Black Cats have been credited with an interest in Ipswich target Remi Matthews.
Matthews is a fr ee agent, having left Bolton Wanderers.
He was signed there by now-Sunderland boss Parkinson.
The 26-year-old, who has been on several loan spells during his career, is a product of the Norwich City academy.