As the race for a top six finish intensifies this month, Sunderland will be aiming to bolster their squad. The first week has been extremely busy in the northeast.
As of right now, Sunderland is ranked sixth in the Championship. With Michael Beale in charge, supporters are hoping he can silence his sceptics and lead Sunderland to yet another Championship play-off final.
He still has a lot of work to do, though, as his performances and achievements to date have not garnered him much praise.
No transfers or acquisitions have been announced as of yet, but numerous rumors indicate that Sunderland is monitoring some players while other teams are observing others.
One surprisingly persistent rumor connected Sunderland to Kieffer Moore. Although the 31-year-old striker doesn’t seem like the kind of player Sunderland would normally recruit, they are in dire need of experience and a striker threat. It looks like he’s heading out of Bournemouth, but a few clubs will be keeping an eye on him.
Last week, it was also reported that the Black Cats had interest in Lamare Bogarde. The fact that Watford, Cardiff City, and Southampton are now interested in the Aston Villa young player could complicate any negotiations.
It’s rumored that Newcastle United is watching teenage player Josh Bellingham. He arrived at Sunderland in the summer and has made an immediate impact. Jobe, 18, could use some time off before making another appearance this season because he has likely played too much. The Magpies may attempt to snatch one of their prospects after defeating Sunderland 3-0 in the FA Cup.
There has been ongoing interest in Manchester United’s Adam Diallo elsewhere. Leicester City has joined Sunderland in their pursuit of the talented winger. But given Manchester United’s offensive shortcomings, it’s unclear if he’ll go out on loan once more this month.
Jack Clarke of Sunderland is apparently attracting interest from a number of teams, Sheffield United being the most recent to be mentioned. Clarke is with Dan Neil, and the Wearside duo is receiving major recognition from the Premier League. Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur are rumored to be keeping a close eye on Neil. It seems like Sunderland will have to fight hard to stay in the northeast for very long.
Since the summer, Sunderland has been associated with Alan Virginius. Last week, Young Boys made an attempt to sign the Lille winger, but it was turned down. It has since been suggested that the Black Cats are still interested in him. That being said, Sunderland doesn’t seem to be as interested as other clubs are right now.
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