Sunderland are in the market for some new attacking additions in January. And there’s at least one impressive name on the club’s radar.
Sunderland and Kristjaan Speakman find themselves in an all too familiar position going into January: in need of more attacking names.
Depth doesn’t seem to be an issue for the club, but rather a lack of goals. Wilson Isidor has faced criticism from Sunderland fans as his goals dry up, whilst Regis Le Bris remains without the likes of Tommy Watson and Romaine Mundle.
Isidor is the club’s top scorer in the Championship this season with just five goals to his name, and Le Bris and Speakman will know that they need a ringer if they’re to really challenge this season.
January then could be crucial for the Black Cats. But Sunderland could be quite quiet in January with a lot of the focus seemingly on who they might cash in on.
One name linked with a move to the Stadium of Light though is Louie Barry.
Sunderland given clear sight of Louie Barry as Middlesbrough update emerges
Middlesbrough have been linked alongside Sunderland for Barry, and it was reported that Michael Carrick’s side were actually the front-runners to sign the 21-year-old on loan from Villa.
Other names linked include Sunderland’s promotion rivals Sheffield United and Leeds United. But it appears as though Boro are out of the race.
An emerging report from The Northern Echo says that Middlesbrough ‘have no plans to pursue a move’ for Barry, and that the former Barcelona man is ‘extremely unlikely’ to move to the Riverside in the New Year.
Aston Villa have recalled Barry from his impressive loan spell with Stockport County where he scored 14 League One goals in the first half of the season.
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Louie Barry is the ‘perfect’ fit for Sunderland in January
Barry has certainly gotten a lot of Championship clubs talking, and it’s easy to see why after his blistering first half of the season with Stockport.
For Sunderland, it could be a match made in heaven. The Black Cats are in need of goals and Barry and Villa will know that Sunderland is a great place for youngsters to thrive.
Speaking this week, BBC pundit Nick Barnes said Barry is a perfect fit for the Sunderland. He said: “Louie Barry’s been mentioned from Aston Villa, attracting attention from a number of Championship clubs.
“He’s the sort of player that would fit the bill perfectly in one sense, because he’s only 20, if he was to arrive for six months, five months in January.”
Now with Boro out of the equation, Sunderland have a slightly better chance of landing Barry. Beating the likes of Leeds and Sheffield United though will not be easy.