The line among many Championship watchers is that Sunderland enjoyed a very strong January transfer window. But Marco Gabbiadini has suggested a very slight air of disappointment at the month.
Sunderland managed to sign three new players during the January transfer window: Enzo Le Fee on loan from Roma, then the club announced the permanent signing of Wilson Isidor, then on deadline day it was Jayden Danns on loan from Liverpool.
Overall, they’re three good signings for Sunderland and Regis Le Bris. Throughout the month though, the Black Cats were linked with several players and many of whom they pushed to sign, but missed out on.
After Le Fee arrived on loan, Sunderland tried to sign Tom Cannon from Leicester City, though the striker would join Sheffield United in the end. Sunderland were ready to spend £13million on Cannon, in a loan-to-buy deal similar to Le Fee’s.
Marco Gabbiadini says what he really thinks about Sunderland’s January transfer window
Speaking on Total Sport, former Sunderland man Marco Gabbiadini has given his thoughts on Sunderland’s January business. He highlighted the positivity of the Le Fee deal, but said that he thought Sunderland would go on and do even more big money deals after that.
Sunderland will pay £20million to sign Le Fee from Roma during the summer, if Sunderland are promoted to the Premier League.
Gabbiadini said: “There weren’t too many surprises. They didn’t particularly push the boat out. Enzo Le Fee is a good signing. I thought it was quit an impactful signing that one, because of the fee involved and the agreement to pay the fee if we got promoted, I thought maybe it would be followed up with some more, and it wasn’t really.
“A loan at the end [Danns], so is that a disappointment? I don’t know if I’m disappointed, it would’ve just made it a little bit easier for the head coach.”
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How much Sunderland paid for Wilson Isidor in January
Gabbiadini makes a very fair point. After Le Fee arrived, it looked like Sunderland were going to go big, especially with Cannon’s links to the Stadium of Light emerging soon after.
To see that Cannon deal fall through may have taken the shine away from the window, ever so slightly, but it’s easy to forget that Sunderland paid £5million for Isidor.
He joins on a permanent deal from Zenit in a signing that hasn’t necessarily gone under the radar, but maybe hasn’t been praised as much as it should’ve.
Ultimately, how good Sunderland’s January transfer business was will be determined at the end of this season.