One of Sunderland’s January targets could be about to seal a permanent deal with another Championship club.
Sunderland had made it their mission to land a new attacker during the January transfer window, with their four summer signings in Nazariy Rusyn, Luis Hemir Semedo, Mason Burstow and Eliezer Mayenda having managed only two goals between them by deadline day.
The Black Cats had been linked with a number of strikers and wingers across the month, but eventually landed Standard Liege’s Romaine Mundle.
The 20-year-old arrives to challenge both Abdoullah Ba and Patrick Roberts for a place on the road, though he could well replace Jack Clarke on the left if he secures a summer exit.
Prior to Mundle’s arrival, one name who Sunderland had expressed interest in was Liam Millar.
The Liverpool academy product had joined Preston North End on loan from Basel this season and has since scored three goals and provided five assists.
Sunderland were looking to snatch the ‘unbelievable’ Canadian from the Lilywhites’ grasp, however they opted against making a move before the deadline.
Lancashire Evening Post have now reported that Preston are in discussions with Basel over a permanent switch for Millar, with the winger expected to leave Switzerland in the summer.
It is thought that Basel could part ways with him for a similar fee to the £1.3 million they coughed up in 2021, though the report admits that Preston could fail to secure a deal if Millar opts to wait until the summer to explore his options.
Could Liam Millar replace Jack Clarke?
Liam Millar has received plenty of praise since moving to Deepdale, but Romaine Mundle’s arrival on Wearside surely shuts down any interest from Sunderland’s side anyway.
Millar is primarily a left winger and so would have to compete with Mundle for that position – if Jack Clarke leaves.
Given the promise that Mundle showed at Tottenham, it seems unlikely that we would bring the youngster in to settle for a place on the bench.
Millar’s record of six goals and eleven assists in 52 games in the EFL would also make his arrival in Clarke’s place a rather underwhelming one.
Sunderland will surely wait to see how Mundle does though, as he is another young player who has played very little senior football so far. Though it is definitely promising that Tottenham wanted to keep him before his move to Belgium.