Sunderland are making a very nice habit of poaching some of the best young talents in Europe, giving them game time in the Championship, and watching their transfer values sky rocket very quickly.
Last summer, Sunderland sold Jack Clarke for £20million, in a transfer deal that epitomised exactly what the Black Cats are trying to do in the transfer market.
The Black Cats were speculated to have paid as little as £1million for Clarke just a couple of years prior. Right now, they have others who, like Clarke, could soon net the club a huge transfer profit, in names like Jobe Bellingham and Dan Ballard to name just a couple.
Ahead of January, Sunderland have been linked with a few players, one being Harvey Vale. Vale is free to leave Chelsea in January with the Blues keen to offload the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who’s out of contract in the summer.
Sunderland AFC News have spoken to Chelsea expert Caleb Sage who writes for The Chelsea Chronicle, about the type of player that Vale is, how much the Black Cats might have to pay for him, and much more…
What type of player is Harvey Vale?
“Vale is a very versatile footballer. His best position is somewhere in attack, probably behind the striker, but he is adept at playing at left-back. He is quite physical and works extremely hard so that helps. To put his versatility into perspective, despite being an attacker, Vale was mostly used as a left-back and left wing-back last season while on loan at Bristol Rovers.
“If I had to compare him to one player in the Premier League, I would actually go with a Newcastle United star, which Sunderland fans may not like to hear! But it is another man with Chelsea connections: Tino Livramento, who Newcastle signed for £32m in 2023. While they play on opposite flanks, they are a similar height and can both bomb down the wing with power.”
Could Harvey Vale cut it in the Championship?
“Without a doubt. The Championship is a man’s league, isn’t it? Physically demanding on the pitch, while games come thick and fast. As a young player, it can eat you alive. But again, Vale has the physical strength to cope with all of that, while I also think he has the technical quality that players in teams closer to the top of the division tend to have.”
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How much would Harvey Vale cost Sunderland?
“It is not going to cost too much to sign Vale this month since his contract expires at the end of the season. I think Sunderland could be getting a real bargain here and perhaps the chance to make a nice bit of profit in the future.”
Could Harvey Vale be a Premier League-level player one day?
“He has already played for Chelsea’s first team, albeit only in the cup competitions. But it shows that Vale is on the right path and if his next club can get his development right should he leave Chelsea, I cannot see why he would not be able to play in the Premier League. I’m not sure if he will make it as a No.10, but as a full-back, if he models his game around someone like Livramento, he will be fine.”
Would Sunderland be a good fit for Harvey Vale?
“Good question! It will come down to how Regis Le Bris decides to use him. With Sunderland aiming for promotion, Vale is going to have a lot of pressure on him if he starts in an attacking position and is expected to score goals and provide assists.
“He may not be ready for that. However, as an option from off the bench or at left-back, where he is not in the firing line too much, Vale could definitely be a nice addition to this Sunderland squad.”