Sunderland have just been warned about their rumoured signing of free agent striker Aaron Connolly.
Sunderland look set to do some business outside of the transfer window and sign striker Aaron Connolly on a free.
The 24-year-old has been without a club since the start of the summer having been let go by Championship rivals Hull City after just one season.
Injuries have often plagued Connolly and they did again last season. But in 13 Championship starts, the former Brighton man scored eight goals, making 24 league appearances in total.
Despite it being claimed that Sunderland were not about to sign Connolly, it’s now reported that a deal is close, and it’s certainly sparking some debate among Black Cats fans on social media.
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Aaron Connolly concern highlighted by Michael Graham
In the past, Connolly has himself admitted that he’s had attitude problems. But he’s insisted that he’s around a better group of people these days.
He said in 2022: “I’ve got a good group of people around me now, a good group of mates… the old circle I used to be around off the pitch, I’ve had to make my mind up.
“At the minute I’m probably the forgotten man in Irish football and if I kept associating with people I’d been associating with before, I would have completely gone off the scale.”
And now journalist Michael Graham had weighed in on Connolly moving to the Stadium of Light, suggesting that Connolly’s ‘professionalism’ is the biggest concern.
Graham posted on X:
Regis Le Bris has already proved he has ruthless streak at Sunderland
Regis Le Bris hasn’t messed around at Sunderland. Soon after his appointment in the summer he was quick to exile certain players.
The likes of Abdoullah Ba and Adil Aouchiche were given their chance but have managed just one league appearance between them this season.
Le Bris says Ba and Aouchiche can still play but it’s down to the players to prove their worth between now and January. And Le Bris will no doubt take the same approach with Connolly.
What deal the Black Cats hand him remains to be seen. But if he’s given a one-year deal then he has limited time to prove himself and his fitness, if he’s to join up with this exciting Sunderland project for the long haul.
If Connolly falls into old habits then he certainly won’t last very long at Sunderland.