Another one of Sunderland’s January transfer targets has joined a new club, and one not too far from Wearside.
Sunderland are having no luck in the transfer market this month.
The Black Cats are being linked with new players but they seem to be missing out on nearly all of them; Kieffer Moore, Jay Stansfield, and Amad Diallo are some examples of names linked with Sunderland, but who don’t look set to join.
And now another name linked with a January move to Sunderland, but who has since joined a new club, is Luke Thomas.
Sunderland target Luke Thomas joins Middlesbrough on loan
Sunderland were linked with Leicester City’s ‘top drawer’ left-back Luke Thomas after he returned from an uneventful loan spell with Sheffield United in the first half of the season.
The Black Cats are desperate for left-backs after seeing Niall Huggins ruled out for the rest of the season, and with Dennis Cirkin still nursing an injury.
But Sunderland’s north-east neighbours Middlesbrough have this afternoon announced the loan capture of Thomas until the end of the season.
Another one bites the dust, but Callum Styles arrival will ease the blow
Thomas would’ve been a shrewd addition to the Sunderland ranks.
He’s an energetic full-back with plenty of top flight experience, but Michael Beale looks like he has another, perhaps even better left-back set to arrive in Callum Styles.
The Hungarian international looks poised to complete a loan move from Barnsley and to later make his stay permanent.
It’s been reported this week that talks were at an advanced stage, and barring any final hiccups, Styles should become a Sunderland player before February 1st.
And with Thomas joining Middlesbrough, Styles looks set to slot in at left-back, although he can obviously play in a number of positions across the pitch.
But Styles perhaps being limited to left-back may mean that Sunderland now have to find recruits in other areas of the pitch, such as in the middle of the park where Styles can also play.
A new striker should also remain a priority for the Black Cats who are struggling for form right now; they’ve lost their last three in all competitions and currently sit in 10th place of the Championship table, after a 1-0 defeat against Hull City last time out.
Beale remains a man under pressure and his side face another tough task against Stoke City at the Stadium of Light this weekend.
If Beale and Sunderland continue to miss out on signings like Thomas, it may well be a tricky second half of the season for the Black Cats.