A journalist has predicted how many transfers Sunderland will make before next week’s deadline.
Sunderland have so far been extremely quiet in the January window and are yet to bring in a new signing, with less than a week of January to go.
The Black Cats were clearly in need of some fresh faces in the squad after a difficult run under Michael Beale, with striker, midfield and left-back positions all desperate for some attention.
The Wearside outfit have so far looked closest to signing Barnsley’s Callum Styles, who is said to be ‘in negotiations‘ with another club after he was left out of The Tykes’ win over Oxford United earlier this week.
They have also held talks over a loan move for Bournemouth’s Kieffer Moore, while Luke Thomas of Leicester City is one defender that has been mentioned as a potential replacement for the injured trio on the left flank.
While there have been names thrown into the hat in recent weeks, it has become quite concerning how little action seems to be occurring from the Academy of Light.
Despite the lack of transfer activity, journalist Michael Graham has predicted Sunderland to still make a handful of signings before next Wednesday.
Writing on X, he said: “Still expecting #SAFC to get two or three players minimum before the deadline.”
When asked which positions he expected the club to bolster, Graham said: “LB, CM, CF.” (In other words, a left-back, central midfielder and a centre forward).
What do Sunderland need in this final week?
Bringing in players in those three positions is really the minimum that Sunderland have to do at this point, otherwise the pressure and the criticism is going to keep coming.
It’s not just a case of perhaps we should bring in some depth, it’s a case of what we really need to avoid a catastrophic end to the season.
Bringing in new players does actually feel like we are papering over the cracks for a little bit with Michael Beale, because any quality arrivals are only going to extend his stay for a bit longer.
Sunderland can’t just go out and buy young and inexperienced players either, because we did that in summer and Jobe Bellingham is arguably the only signing we made that has remotely improved our squad.
We need Championship experience, leadership and quality right now – not for three years time.
But without a new left-back, midfielder and striker, I fear that we could easily end up dropping down the table without a clue how to solve the problem.