Sunderland have a growing list of players on their transfer radar, with the January window just around the corner.
January has come around quick for Sunderland, who’ve certainly enjoyed a promising first half of the 2024/25 season.
Nobody knew what to expect from Regis Le Bris this season. But he’s surprised everyone by making the Black Cats into genuine promotion contenders in the Championship.
Sunderland sit in 4th place of the Championship table and finish their 2024 with a trip to Stoke City on Sunday.
The Potters are managers after sacking Narcis Pelach, but Stoke City fans are keen on Tony Mowbray coming in at the bet365 Stadium.
Ahead of the January transfer window opening, we’ve looked at the five attackers being linked with Sunderland, and assessed which deals are plausible for Kristjaan Speakman and the Black Cats…
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Sunderland linked with five attackers including Aston Villa’s Louie Barry and Brighton’s Evan Ferguson
Perhaps the biggest name linked with Sunderland right now is Brighton’s Evan Ferguson.
It’s claimed that Sunderland have shown an interest in Ferguson who’s played just 12 times in the Premier League this season, scoring once, with the bulk of his appearances coming off the bench.
A potential loan deal seems possible, albeit very unlikely. Ferguson is still playing at Brighton and how realistic a loan move to the Championship is, remains to be seen. What’s more for Sunderland is that Arsenal have been tipped to show an interest in Ferguson in the New Year.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa gem Louie Barry has been recalled following his impressive spell on loan at Stockport County in the first half of the season. He now has several Championship teams on alert.
Sunderland are one of the teams linked with Barry and a loan deal for the 21-year-old certainly feels plausible, though Villa look to be taking time to decide Barry’s next best move.
Another deal that certainly feels doable for Sunderland is a possible swoop for Celtic hotshot Daniel Cummings.
Sunderland have been linked with Cummings following his impressive scoring antics in the UEFA Youth League with Celtic, having scored six in as many games in the competition this season.
He too has interest from a number of clubs. But Sunderland have been labelled a ‘good fit’ for Cummings, who’s just 18 years old and looking for first-team opportunities. He’s also out of contract at Celtic at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Along with Ferguson, another deal that feels unlikely for the Black Cats is a possible swoop for Halmstads striker Yannick Agnero.
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It’s claimed that Sunderland are keeping tabs on Agnero who’s scored four goals in 11 Allsvenskan games for Halmstads this season, having only joined the club during the summer.
On the surface, it sounds like a Sunderland-type of transfer. But at 21 years old, he’s slightly older than the type of player Sunderland would usually poach from Europe.
And having not exactly been overly-prolific this season, at a club he only joined last summer, Sunderland spending big on signing Agnero in January feels unlikely.
Lastly, Sunderland are keeping tabs on Harvey Vale at Chelsea, and this deal certainly feels like one that could come to fruition.
Vale is out of contract at Chelsea in the summer of 2025 and so a January exit looks probable. Sunderland though may have to weigh up a permanent swoop for the 21-year-old, should Chelsea not want to release him at the end of the campaign.
Vale impressed on loan at Bristol Rovers last season with the central midfielder scoring twice and assisting five times in 39 League One outings.
Sunderland’s game at Stoke City on Sunday kicks off at 3pm.