For any Sunderland fan beginning to think about the January transfer window, there is good news on one front as a potential Black Cats target looks closer to an exit.
Sunderland’s current form may be a concern, but the club are still flying high in fourth place in the Championship right now.
There’s always room for improvement, though, and Regis Le Bris could look to add one or two new faces to his squad next month to keep Sunderland’s promotion charge alive.
Le Bris has suggested he will look to prioritise Sunderland’s young players rather than signing new ones, but there is one particular target who fits in both categories.
Celtic still haven’t offered Daniel Cummings a new contract
Sunderland have been heavily linked with a move for Celtic youngster Daniel Cummings, with the 18-year-old in fine form for the Parkhead outfit’s youth team this season.
Cummings scored again last week in the UEFA Youth League (his fifth in that competition this term), to take his overall tally for the season to 22 goals in 20 matches.
Now, the latest on his situation comes from the Daily Mail, with the revelation that Celtic are still yet to offer the “prolific” Cummings a new contract despite his current deal ending next summer, leaving him open to discuss a move with other clubs from January 1.
The report adds that Sunderland are among a number of English clubs that have “run checks” on Cummings, along with the likes of Brentford, Wolves, Fulham, Ipswich, and Burnley.
Sunderland will struggle to win the race for Daniel Cummings
The fact that so many Premier League clubs are also circling Cummings does naturally put a dent in Sunderland’s hopes of signing the teenager.
Any player would understandably gravitate towards the bigger clubs playing at the higher level, and the prospect of a switch to Fulham or Brentford in particular must surely look the most appealing to Cummings.
Still, Cummings has been told that Sunderland would be a ‘good fit’ for his development, and with the club’s penchant for giving youngsters a pathway to the first team, the Black Cats can potentially offer him first-team football sooner than their top flight counterparts.