Tony Mowbray is considering a January move for a Sunderland fan favourite.
Tony Mowbray completely transformed a number of Sunderland’s key players during his time on Wearside.
The likes of Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts looked like world-beaters in the Championship, while Dan Neil, Dan Ballard and Trai Hume all benefitted from his excellent coaching.
The former Sunderland boss joined Birmingham City earlier this month and it didn’t take very long for him to start looking at his previous club to help booster the Blues’ ranks.
However, the one name he is looking at isn’t who you would expect.
According to The Telegraph, Birmingham City are one of three clubs targeting Alex Pritchard.
The midfielder is currently serving the last six months of his contract at the Stadium of Light and is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal.
Pritchard has become a fan favourite during his time at Sunderland, however he had really struggled for regular starts over the last year or so.
After starting 21 of Sunderland’s first 22 games following their promotion to the Championship, Pritchard seemed to struggle for minutes following the turn of the year.
The 30-year-old made only five starts in the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, before he was heavily linked with a move away in the summer.
Pritchard ended up staying on Wearside, but Mowbray still only handed him four starts this season before the 60-year-old was sacked.
The midfielder has now come back into the team and has really impressed, picking up the most assists in the squad (5).
While there has been talk of a new deal for Pritchard, Birmingham City are hoping to sneak in and snatch him from Sunderland’s grasp this month.
The Blues are also reportedly joined by Turkish side Sivasspor and MLS outfit Colorado Rapids in their pursuit.
Could Alex Pritchard join Birmingham?
Tony Mowbray chasing Alex Pritchard seems crazy to me, as he seemed to spend the whole of 2023 not really keen on him at all.
Sunderland fans called for Pritchard’s inclusion in the starting line-up on so many occasions, but the former manager doesn’t didn’t seem to fancy him.
For him to now look to bring the veteran to St Andrews is very confusing – especially when Mowbray’s best mate Bradley Dack has also entered the last six months of his deal.
But whether Mowbray wants Pritchard or not, we need to be working on a new contract for him because he has comfortably been one of our best players since he was brought back in.