This time last year, Sunderland were heading into 2023 off the back of only one loss in six games.
The Black Cats had just thrashed Wigan Athletic 4-1 in their own back garden and the likes of Ellis Simms, Ross Stewart and Amad Diallo were flying high.
Things are looking a little different right now though. While Sunderland are only two points from the Championship play-off spots, they have claimed only four points in their last far games and look far from the free-flowing, exciting team that the fans loved last season.
Sunderland are struggling for goals and are relying heavily on Jack Clarke, while their squad just looks exhausted and lacking in ideas compared to the creativity they posed under Tony Mowbray.
Fans seem to have accepted that they will struggle to reach the play-offs, but the second half of the campaign could depend on how they perform in the January transfer window.
Here are three key transfers that Sunderland should be looking at to bolster their chances of promotion…
Amad Diallo
Amad Diallo is the most obvious choice and definitely the one that fans are most desperate for.
The Ivorian netted 14 goals in the Championship last season and his almighty presence has been made even more obvious by his absence this term.
Amad was at the centre of everything for us, and Patrick Roberts also seems to really be struggling without him. They formed an excellent partnership during the last campaign and a resurgence of the pair could really help the Black Cats move up the table.
Tony Mowbray’s exit may make a move to Wearside less appealing for the 21-year-old though, who certainly won’t be short of options this month.
Kieffer Moore
Another transfer target that has been mentioned by many is Kieffer Moore.
Sunderland clearly don’t fancy their current crop of strikers, but the absence of a No.9 has made any sort of attacking threat almost invisible in recent games.
Kieffer Moore is exactly the kind of forward we need – experienced and a guaranteed goalscorer.
The 31-year-old has netted 47 goals and provided 14 assists in 155 appearances in the Championship – including four in Bournemouth’s final four games of the 2021/22 campaign to see them promoted.
Moore is yet to make a start for the Cherries this season though and has managed only 15 minutes of action in their last 10 games in the Premier League.
The attacker has already been linked with a return to Cardiff City so could be available in January, though Sunderland would have to cough up the cash they made on Ross Stewart’s summer exit.
Thom Haye
One of Sunderland’s main priorities has to be a midfielder – and preferably a defensive one at that.
Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah are currently the Black Cats’ only senior options in that position, with Corry Evans and Jay Matete still out.
While the latter is set to return to action soon, Sunderland would still massively benefit from an Evans replacement – someone experienced and full of leadership qualities.
The Wearside outfit were already linked with SC Heerenveen midfielder Thom Haye in the summer, but he ended up staying in the Netherlands.
The club could do much worse than to go back in for the 28-year-old next month after a solid first half of the campaign in the Eredivisie.
Haye has started 14 of Heerenveen’s 16 league games this season, with the club sat ninth in the Dutch top division.
As per WhoScored, he midfielder has so far made the third-most tackles in the squad (22), the joint-most passes blocked (13), the fourth-most dribbles completed (10), the most passes completed (943) and has made the most key passes (35).