A player linked with Sunderland last January is now set to be loaned out this summer, with the Championship his likeliest destination.
Sunderland have recently gotten their third summer signing over the line with Ian Poveda joining on a three-year deal, following his release at Leeds United this summer.
He joins Simon Moore and Alan Browne in signing for the Black Cats this summer with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman clearly wanting to bolster his side with more Championship experience.
Elsewhere, Sunderland are working on a deal to sign Alexandre Mendy from Caen, after the striker topped the Ligue 2 goals tally last season with 22 to his name.
More signings are needed, and Speakman will be keen to further bolster his ranks with several Sunderland players having Premier League interest right now.
One position that Sunderland remain quite light in is in central midfield, with Browne, Pierre Ekwah, Jobe Bellingham and Dan Neil the only natural options in the middle.
But one central midfielder who the Black Cats wanted to sign in January is now set to be loaned out this summer.
Aston Villa set to loan out previous Sunderland target Lamar Bogarde
Sunderland were loosely linked with Aston Villa’s young Dutch midfielder Lamar Bogarde, 20, in January, though the defensive midfielder eventually joined Bristol Rovers on loan in League One.
He went on to feature 14 times in League One and now Villa are hoping to send him out on loan again, but likely to a Championship team this time round.
Journalist Darren Witcoop confirmed Villa’s stance on the youngster, adding that he already has interest from the English second tier and from abroad too.
Witcoop posted on X:
Sunderland desperately need a replacement for one player
Along with Sunderland’s striker issues, the club has also lacked a proper defensive midfielder over the past year or so, and with Corry Evans having departed, the need for one is now even greater.
Browne is able to play in that position, but Browne has suggested he wants to play further up the pitch for Sunderland next season
So a defensive midfielder who can tackle and provide steel remains a priority, and Bogarde would add just that with the Villa man able to operate as a centre-back or a midfielder.
Boasting defensive capabilities will allow him to provide that necessary defensive coverage in the middle of the pitch and that could be a real game-changer for Regis Le Bris next season.
And adding another central midfielder to the mix will keep the competition rife and hopefully enable Ekwah to up his game after what was a very hit and miss 2023/24 season.
Whether Sunderland remain interested in Bogarde remains to be seen. But he’s clearly someone who Speakman has done his research on in the past and with Villa eyeing a loan for the Dutchman, a move to Sunderland could be a realistic bet.