Sunderland Sporting Director made a correct call regarding one Black Cats attacker in January.
Sunderland and Kristjaan Speakman have sanctioned several departures from the club this season for players deemed not quite up to Championship level.
Speakman showed particular consideration towards the younger players who couldn’t quite compete at this level in the 2023/24 season, sending several of those out on loan.
This has helped get the best out of Sunderland midfielder Nectarios Triantis, currently shining at Hibernian, whilst Adil Aouchiche has also notched necessary Championship game time with Portsmouth.
There was also another decision that Speakman got spot on, sanctioning the departure of one man that had always struggled on Wearside since his tenure began in 2023.
Kristjaan Speakman made correct decision to loan out Nazariy Rusyn as Wearside future looks unlikely
At the business end of the January transfer window, Nazariy Rusyn left Sunderland to join Hajduk Split, a Croatian side managed by Italian Gennaro Gattuso.
The striker was deemed not quite at Championship level and, therefore had the loan sanctioned to get game time.
Speakman made sure that the Ukrainian left with an option to buy which sits at a reported £2.1million. It was a great deal for Sunderland to sanction, not just because of the potential fee that the club may receive, but it confirmed that he wasn’t at Championship level, because he is struggling in the Croatian league, having yet to score for Gattuso’s side.
Nazariy Rusyn future clearly lies away from Wearside
Whether Croatian side Hajduk Split sanction a permanent move for Rusyn or not, it is becoming abruptly clear that the Ukrainian’s future lies away from the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland Sporting Director Speakman did well to get some of Rusyn’s wages off the books for the remainder of the 2024/25 season, assuming that Hajduk Split are covering it partially, ahead of what will likely be a sale of the striker in summer, whether that is to his current loan club, or elsewhere.
Unfortunately, Speakman’s tenure on Wearside will go down as a disappointment, with the player showing very little signs of coming to life during his time at the club, and it is clear that the club have made up their mind on the attacker.