Although he acknowledged that he isn’t anticipating any big changes during the January transfer window, Sunderland’s new head coach Michael Beale did mention that the team could still be improved. What then can fans expect in terms of potential comings and goings?As many have observed, the Black Cats have assembled a youthful and exciting group in recent years, but a glaring weakness for the team this season has been their lack of innovation. Even though it’s not entirely the product of the team’s forward players not taking chances, that cannot be ignored. Mason Burstow, Hemir, Eliezer Mayenda, and Nazariy Rusyn are the four strikers that Sunderland recently signed, and between them, they still have no senior goals.
Black Cats sporting director Kristjaan Speakman did imply that the team might try to sign another striker when the transfer window reopens, but you have to figure that would mean parting with at least one of the aforementioned players.
Given that he was loaned out to gain first-team experience and still has a contract with Chelsea, Burstow—who has played more for Sunderland’s under-21 team in the last month—seems to be the most likely to depart. Hemir may also have the chance to be loaned out. In the team’s last eight games, he has only played 16 minutes of senior football.
Sunderland also desired to up the ante in central midfield and wide areas during the summer. The latter may depend on Jay Matete’s condition after his long-term knee injury recuperation and his 45-minute under-21 squad matchup with Arsenal this month. Timothee Pembele, Dennis Cirkin, and Aji Alese could soon recover to full strength and shorten the team’s full-back lineup, much like Niall Huggins’ concerning injury did.
Alex Pritchard had less than a year left on his contract, so Sunderland was happy to let him go in the summer. However, the 30-year-old’s performance in the last month has shown that he still has what it takes to be an important player on a young squad.
Higher-level teams may also attempt to sign some of Sunderland’s most valuable players after expressing interest in players such as Patrick Roberts, Dan Neil, Pierre Ekwah, Jack Clarke, and Pierre Ekwah in the summer.The team will assess loan possibilities for Jewison Bennette, another young player who has only played nine minutes of senior football this season, in the coming weeks.
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