Takeovers and transfers... Phil Smith answers your questions
Sunderland’s festive schedule has been postponed after an outbreak of COVID-19 at the club.
There nevertheless remains much to be discussed, with Aide nMcG ea dy breaking his silence on his yearlong exclusion from the Black Cats squad this weekend, takeover talk continuing and thoughts turning towards th e January window.
So, Phil Smith took questions from readers in his weekly Q&A…
Do you think Sunderland will rely on the loan market this January (as in players 21 & under because of the cap) and also do you think Lee Johnson will actually get Sunderland what we need (pace) when neither Jack Ross or Phil Parkinson did so?
I think it’s absolutely an option Sunderland will be exploring.
In terms of the cap on squad sizes, there is only space for Sunderland to add one player over the age of 21 to the current squad. It’ s fair to surmise that they are fairly close to the salary cap itself in terms of their wage commitments.
Johnson has already hinted in his answers around the January window that the loan market might be a good one to explore, and has already discussed his strong connections with Premier League clubs. He’s a coach with a good reputation with those academies, and that could definitely be an asset for Sunderland.
When discussing his desire for a bit more pace in the squad, he has said that he is happy for that player to be raw in other areas of his squad. So it follows that bringing in a young loanee could be a good way to get some variety in the squad while staying within the restrictions.
He has also said, though, that he will give opportunities to youngsters at Sunderland if they can prove they are worthy of it. Jack Diamond’s performances have given him pause for thought and though he’s still a while away from returning, I expect he’ll take a good look at Benji Kimpioka, who is certainly raw but is also most certainly quick.
What’s the state of play on the takeover? Expect any movement before Christmas?
CEO Jim Rodwell made clear at Sincil Bank that while talks are advanced, and there has been some dialogue with the EFL, there are matters still to be settled.
He mentioned loan funding to be sorted (the FPP loan the obvious and most expensive example there), as well as matters such as property and the funding of ongoing costs.
All indications are that while Stewart Donald is likely to remain a minority shareholder, he firmly intends to become a sleeping partner and wants to bring an end to his day-to-day involvement in club matters.
The wider picture of how this deal will break down, though, remains unclear.
KyrilLouis-Dreyf us is thought to have ambitious plans for the club surrounding areas such as the academy, and has made a positive impression on those with knowledge of his ideas. After numerous failed takeover talks, though, supporters are understandably sceptical and will also be looking for concrete evidence that Louis-Dreyfus will have the scope and power required to initiate the change required after the failure of the current regime.
Most supporters have been encouraged by therecent changes made in the footballing structure, but the takeover remains the key issue to be settled and until it is, it remains very difficult for the club to move forward properly.
The expectation for some time has been for LouisDreyfus to arrive in some capacity, and remains so with a will on all sides to do a deal, but recent experience tells us to be cautious until definitively settled.
Do you think the AFC Wimbledon game should have been postponed?
These things are always easier to address with hindsight but yes, I think Sunderland should have postponed the game on Tuesday afternoon.
Once it became clear that there was a high chance the virus had spread beyond the initial positive test (remember two other players were displaying symptoms), then the best decision would have been to immediately call the game off and send the squad into isolation.
It remains inconceivable to me, though, that we are in a situation where the guidelines are still unclear nine months into the pandemic.
The EFL seemed unimpressed with Sunderland’s views and insisted all clubs are aware of the protocols, and what to do in the event of an outbreak. That may be true up to a point, but the lack of clarity around what an investigation will entail and what the potential consequences are puts clubs in a difficult position.
The situation around the virus may well have been improving earlier in the summer but it still seems a major error to have begun the campaign with a bailout not secured, and without an obvious system in place for what happens to games in the event of an outbreak.
With the virus growing again and cases within the EFL on the rise, I wouldn’t be surprised if testing arrangements and the like are revisited in the weeks ahead. The current procedure doesn’t seem fit for purpose.
I think Sunderland made the wrong decision around the AFC Wimbledon game, but there should never have even been a debate to begin with.