Sunderland are thought to hold a ‘very serious interest’ in a midfielder who is available on a free transfer.
Sunderland are in the transfer market for a number of things this summer. But mainly, it looks like sporting director Kristjaan Speakman will target some players with Championship experience.
Last season, both Michael Beale and Mike Dodds highlighted the lack of Championship experience within the first-team, as Sunderland eventually finished in a disappointing 16th place of the table.
Along with other issues, such as signing a goal-scoring no.9 and replacing any potentially outgoing players like Anthony Patterson and Jack Clarke to name a couple, adding experience seems like the main focus for Sunderland this summer.
The Black Cats now look set to press on with their summer transfer plans after recently announcing the appointment of Regis Le Bris as their new head coach, after four months without a permanent boss in place.
Sunderland hold ‘serious interest’ in Ollie Norwood
Journalist Michael Graham has revealed on X that Sunderland ‘hold a very serious interest’ in free agent midfielder Ollie Norwood.
It comes after reports claimed the Black Cats were taking a look at the Englishman, who’s featured 381 times in the Championship in spells with Huddersfield Town, Reading, Brighton, Fulham, and Sheffield United.
The 33-year-old has won promotion from the second tier on four separate occasions, doing so with Brighton in 2017, Fulham in 2018, and with Sheffield United in 2019 and 2023.
Graham adds that Norwood to the Stadium of Light is not ‘at an advanced stage yet’ and that Championship rivals West Brom and Watford are also interested in the 57-cap Northern Ireland international.
Ollie Norwood can provide crucial plug in Sunderland midfield
Last season, there was a lot of pressure on the likes of Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah, to not only provide Sunderland with the engine in the midfield, but to also stay fit.
Jobe Bellingham was needed elsewhere on the pitch on a lot of occasions and it put a lot of strain on Neil and Ekwah, with Ekwah not enjoying the most impressive season.
Having more depth in the midfield will be crucial for Sunderland next season and someone with as much Championship and promotion experience as Norwood could prove vital.
He’s a very well-rounded midfielder in that he can play as a deeper-lying one or even as more of a box-to-box player, with Norwood often popping up with goal contributions; he has 25 goals and 48 assists in the second tier.
Norwood to Sunderland certainly seems like an exciting deal for the Black Cats. But a potentially difficult one to get over the line, given interest from elsewhere.