Sunderland’s transfer business looks to be picking up after they were linked with two experienced midfielders.
The Black Cats have already snapped up Simon Moore on a free transfer, but their starting line-up has gone untouched in the early weeks of the window.
Sunderland have made it clear that they intend on adding some experience to the squad though, with recent reports claiming they are hoping to sign free-agent Alan Browne after previously holding a ‘serious interest’ in Oliver Norwood.
The club are yet to address the main issue that has been a problem for over a year now though, with Kristjaan Speakman yet to add a proven striker to his ranks.
Sunderland have gone without since Ross Stewart suffered a season-ending injury in January 2023, but the club are expected to push for a new forward this summer.
The Wearside outfit had been linked with a move for Notts County’s Macaulay Langstaff back in January, before reigniting their interest in recent months.
Having netted a whopping 70 goals in the past two seasons for Notts County, the 27-year-old had earned bags of interest across the EFL.
However, it was confirmed yesterday that Langstaff had joined Championship club Millwall for an undisclosed fee – believed to be around £750,000.
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Sunderland missed out on ‘unbelievable’ deal
Pundit Carlton Palmer believes Sunderland should be very ‘disappointed’ that they didn’t manage to land Langstaff, who has spent a majority of his life in and around the north-east.
Speaking to Football League World, Palmer said: ““It’s a fantastic story for Macaulay, from non-league football to now plying his trade in the Championship for the first time. Reports coming out say it’s a deal worth £700k and I think that’s one hell of a deal for Millwall.
“This guy will score goals at this level, I have no doubt about that. The chances he has, and his conversion rate is brilliant, and I think he will score goals at this level because he has done everywhere else.
“I think he’s good for 20 goals next season in the Championship, so the likes of Coventry and Sunderland will be disappointed, especially when they see the £700k fee.
“Now I know people will look at that and say he’s never played in the Championship before, but if you look at the price you have to pay for a striker now in the Championship, then this is an unbelievable bit of business from Millwall.”
Macaulay Langstaff could have been a real bargain
David Ornstein reported today that Ipswich Town are set to sign Liam Delap in a deal worth £20m, despite having only 13 senior goals to his name.
While his only 21 years old, Delap plays for Manchester City and is joining another Premier League club, so his price tag is automatically hugely inflated.
While Langstaff may not be able to do it in the top flight, spending £750k on a player who netted 28 goals in 46 matches in League Two last season seems like it could be an absolute steal.
The forward made the leap up from the National League North with Gateshead and hasn’t batted an eyelid.
It certainly seemed like it would have been a risk worth taking, and given that he’s born in Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland surely would have had an advantage in the race to sign him.