Sunderland suffered a disappointing defeat on Saturday. But for one Kristjaan Speakman target, it was a thoroughly positive day.
Sunderland suffered their first league defeat of the entire 2024/25 Championship season on Saturday, losing 1-0 against Hull City at the Stadium of Light.
Fans are fuming with Anthony Patterson after his own goal in the first half gave Championship strugglers Hull the win. But Regis Le Bris will be the first to admit that his side simply weren’t at the races on Saturday.
Nonetheless, Sunderland remain in 4th place of the table with 12 games left to secure themselves a spot in the top six. Promotion or not, though, Kristjaan Speakman will have a lot of work to do during the next summer transfer window.
Sunderland will either be preparing themselves for what would be an extremely difficult Premier League campaign, or they’d be having to replace a number of players who’d undoubtedly leave in the event that Sunderland don’t earn promotion.
One name recently linked with a summer move to Wearside is Hansa Rostock defender Ahmet Gurleyen.
Ahmet Gurleyen shines in first display since Sunderland links
Recent reports have revealed that Sunderland are keeping tabs on Gurleyen at German third tier club Hansa Rostock. It was reported that the Black Cats are eyeing a summer deal for the 25-year-old centre-back who’d cost Kyril Louis-Dreyfus just £400,000.
On Saturday, his Hansa Rostock side hosted 3.Liga hopefuls Dynamo Dresden. And in a shock result, Rostock won the game 1-0 owing to Nils Froling’s 11th minute goal, with Rostock then shutting up shop and holding out for 80 minutes to seal the win.
German outlet Ostsee Zeitung wrote of Gurleyen’s performance: “Was almost flawless in the game. He shut out Dynamo’s top scorer [Christoph] Daferner and was always close to him. He was injured in the middle of the second half and had to go off.”
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Sunderland move for Ahmet Gurleyen could depend on one other player
The Sunderland centre-back department could certainly do with an extra body in there, and Gurleyen could be a useful signing, albeit he lacks any experience of English football.
But whether or not Sunderland signing a new centre-back in the summer could depend on whether or not Speakman can pull of a permanent deal for Chris Mepham.
Speakman has already hinted at signing Mepham permanently from parent club Bournemouth in the summer. Though that move could depend on whether or not the Black Cats earn promotion with other Championship clubs interested in Mepham too.
Sunderland are back in action away at Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night.