Of all the top four Championship clubs, Sheffield United arguably had the best January transfer window, at least in terms of quantity of signings. But Sunderland certainly did their share of good business.
Sunderland signed three players during the January transfer window in Enzo Le Fee, Wilson Isidor, and now Jayden Danns who’s been announced as a Sunderland player.
All focus now turns to Regis Le Bris and his players, and the remainder of the Championship season with 16 games left after Sunderland beat Middlesbrough 3-2 on Monday night.
Leeds United remain in 1st place of the Championship table. But just five points separate them and Sunderland in 4th, with Sheffield United currently in 2nd and Burney in 3rd.
Alan Nixon hails Sunderland ‘match-winners’ after January transfer window
Posting on Patreon in the wake of the January transfer window, journalist Alan Nixon has given some thoughts on the top end of the table, and on Sunderland in particular.
He thinks that the Black Cats now have the most ‘match-winners’ in their side. Nixon wrote: “Sunderland now have more match-winners than any rival. That matters at this stage of the season.”
Sheffield United got deals over the like for the likes of Sunderland target Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz, who was also mentioned alongside the Black Cats, and a number of other names including Hamza Choudhury from Leicester City.
“Sheffield United have bulked up after remarkable efforts with a stretched squad. Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz will deliver. They look a solid top two finisher,” Nixon added.
“Leeds United signed a player but never bothered advertising it. Their current form looks good but any injuries puts them at risk.
“Burnley are the big losers. No striker is about as bad as going into a Premier League campaign without a left back. The result will be the same.”
On deadline day, Burnley signed Marcus Edwards on loan from Sporting CP after the former Spurs man was linked with a move to the Stadium of Light.
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One Sunderland ‘match-winner’ will play a key role this season
Nixon is bang on about Sunderland having match-winners. And they’re also really gelling as a team under Le Bris, too, making for big wins like the one at the Riverside on Monday.
But Nixon’s comments may well refer to one particular match-winner at Sunderland: Le Fee.
Le Fee shone for Sunderland against Middlesbrough with his Serie A level class bursting through on the night, leaving Middlesbrough full-back Luke Ayling for dust on more than one occasion.
Adding Le Fee to the side has added that extra bit of star quality to the Sunderland squad and bolstered their promotion push massively.
But Le Bris will need all of his star players to really pull together if Sunderland are to earn promotion this season.