Sunderland look set to miss out on another summer transfer target.
Sunderland made it very clear early on the transfer window that they expect to lose Jack Clarke this summer, as they were linked with a number of attackers.
The Black Cats have already pulled out of the race to sign Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, missed out on Chris Willock and fell behind in their pursuit of Jacob Murphy.
Sunderland look to be short on options if Clarke does leave in the final weeks of the window, with another of their key targets now closing in on a £3 million move to their Championship rivals.
Liam Millar set for £3m switch to Championship rivals
According to TSN Sports journalist Matthew Scianitti, Liam Millar’s move to Hull City is ‘nearing completion’.
He wrote on X: “Liam Millar’s move to Hull City is nearing completion. Toronto native will move from FC Basel in Switzerland back to the English Championship for 3.5m Euros on a 3yr deal plus an option. Millar travelling to London to complete medical and paperwork.”
Millar was a hit whilst on loan at Preston North End last year, picking up ten goal contributions despite mostly being deployed as a wing-back.
The Wearside outfit were reportedly eager to snap him up once he returned to FC Basel, but now look to have missed out to Hull.
Are Sunderland right to put off their winger pursuit?
Millar is set to turn 25 years old next month and could have been a promising option to replace Clarke, while Sunderland surely would have been a more attractive offer than the Tigers.
Hull did just miss out on the play-offs last term but are predicted for a much more disappointing campaign this time round, having lost all of their key players.
The Black Cats are in limbo though and clearly don’t want to bring in a new winger until Clarke leaves, while Millar certainly won’t have wanted to join and risk being on the bench if the 23-year-old ends up staying.
Sunderland will receive huge praise if they do keep hold of Clarke this summer, but the criticism is only going to get worse if they sell him in the final week of the window then run out of time to replace him.
They are rapidly running out of options and it will be incredibly frustrating if the club finally bring in a striker, but have no quality winger to help him out.
Romaine Mundle remains Clarke’s current replacement and has really impressed in preseason, but his underwhelming start to life in the Championship last summer won’t settle the supporters’ nerves.