The January transfer window is looming, and Sunderland could make one or two improvements in their squad, with a Man City ace surely on their wishlist.
It’s safe to say Sunderland and Manchester City are not in the best of form right now, but the two teams could help each other out in the New Year.
Regis Le Bris has seen his side fail to win in six games now, and must be thinking about making changes in the January transfer window.
While Le Bris has outlined the priority will be to develop his young players, adding another teenage talent into the mix with a loan move wouldn’t hurt.
- READ MORE: Trey Ogunsuyi told Sunderland ‘need to see’ one big improvement as first-team opportunity beckons
Nico O’Reilly can add creativity to Sunderland’s midfield
One of Sunderland’s main struggles at the moment comes in front of goal, with the Black Cats failing to penetrate the opposition defence consistently.
Even when they do, they’ve not managed to put the ball in the back of the net with the required prolificacy to maintain their promotion push.
So, it’s clear that the Sunderland squad needs a little more spark and creativity in their advanced areas, and Manchester City starlet, Nico O’Reilly, could be the solution to that.
The 19-year-old is a physically strong yet highly technical playmaker who already possesses an unnerving level of composure on the ball, and the vision and ability to find killer passes through the lines.
In essence, he could be exactly what Sunderland need to revitalise a stagnant forward line, and O’Reilly could certainly flourish in the second tier, too.
Regular game time needed for Nico O’Reilly
He made his first-team debut for City in the Community Shield, got a brief run out in the Champions League against Sparta Prague, and featured heavily in the two Carabao Cup games this season, including a full 90 minutes in the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Pep Guardiola has raved about O’Reilly’s potential, telling The Athletic that Manchester City are “blessed” to have players like him, and adding: “We saw it last season when [he] was training with us. He’s a guy who will be a player.”
O’Reilly finds himself in the difficult position of being too good for the Under-21 team — he is the captain at that level — but not quite being ready to play regularly for the senior side, especially given their current plight.
If he is to continue his development effectively, a strong second half of the season is an absolute must, and playing week in, week out in the Championship would help O’Reilly evolve very quickly.
- READ MORE: In-demand youngster told Sunderland would be a ‘good fit’ ahead of possible January transfer
Competition and cover for Jobe Bellingham is a must
Obviously, Jobe Bellingham is one of Sunderland’s star players, and on his day, one of the best playmakers in the Championship.
However, that’s not to say that he is flawless. Far from it, in fact, and Bellingham’s latest performances have seen the 19-year-old struggle to assert himself on the game like we know he is capable of.
| Statistics | Jobe Bellingham 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 15 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Pass completion % | 85.9 |
| Shot-creating actions per 90 | 2.39 |
| Successful take-on % | 58.8 |
To have someone like O’Reilly come in, Bellingham would not only have a bit of a fight on his hands for a starting spot, but could also enjoy a rest here and there to ensure his levels stay high throughout the season.
There’s nothing wrong with a bit of competition for places, and an ‘incredible’ leader like Bellingham would be the first to admit that a battle for game time can only benefit him and the other players around him,