Sunderland may already have some January transfer exits lines up.
The January transfer window could well come to Sunderland’s rescue this season, as they chase promotion to the Premier League.
The Black Cats have started well under Regis Le Bris, but last weekend’s 3-2 defeat vs Plymouth Argyle has highlighted some potential worries going further into this 2024/25 season.
As always for teams chasing promotion, what they do in the January window will be crucial.
Sunderland enjoyed a strong summer transfer window with nine new players arriving at the Stadium of Light in total, including four on deadline day.
And there were several player exits too, including the £20million sale of Jack Clarke and multiple loan exits for some of the club’s lesser-seen players.
January could be the same too; several first-team players already look out of favour under Le Bris this season.
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Abdoullah Ba and Adil Aouchiche poised for Sunderland exits
Two such players are Adil Aouchiche and Abdoullah Ba.
Neither player has featured in any of the last three match day squads in the Championship, with Aouchiche the only one to have played any minutes in the Championship so far this season.
Ahead of the league fixture vs Middlesbrough this weekend, Le Bris revealed that both Ba and Aouchiche could’ve left Sunderland in the summer transfer window, with both now having their chance to impress before January.
Despite Le Bris insisting that both players remain in his thoughts, it’s going to be difficult for either player to get any minutes at all before January, unless there’s some serious injuries in the side.
Sunderland fresh competition has left Ba and Aouchiche behind
Despite the loss of Clarke, Sunderland still have firepower, with Romaine Mundle having stepped up to the plate.
And Le Bris looks set to play Tom Watson in the coming weeks as he breaks away from the U21s, with summer signing Ian Poveda also an option.
That leaves Ba well down the pecking order on the left flank, whilst in the middle of the pitch, there’s Chris Rigg asserting his dominance, and Alan Browne impressing too.
And Jobe Bellingham has the no.10 position locked down, so Aouchiche also looks like surplus to requirements right now.
With Sunderland in form, it’s going to be hard for anyone who isn’t in the picture right now, to break into it.
So for Ba and Aouchiche, a January exit either temporary or permanent certainly seems likely as things stand.