Sunderland look to have been dealt a premature January transfer blow, with Fulham now lining up a move for someone on Kristjaan Speakman’s transfer radar.
Kristjaan Speakman no doubt has several tricks up his sleeve for the upcoming January transfer window, as he did for the previous summer transfer window.
Just as it looked like Sunderland’s striker search had hit a brick wall, Speakman signed Wilson Isidor on loan. Then when it looked like the summer would conclude as quite a quiet one, Sunderland signed four new players on deadline day.
Speakman has earned praise and rightly so. But there’s still some gaps in the side, with Sunderland fans thinking a new striker is still needed despite the additions of Isidor and Aaron Connolly in the summer.
Few have been linked though. Instead, a lot of the Sunderland transfer rumours of late have linked players with moves away from the Stadium of Light, with January looking potentially very treacherous for the Black Cats.
- READ MORE: Marco Gabbiadini thinks Sunderland are really ‘missing’ former player who’s shining in 24/25
Fulham line up Evan Ferguson bid in January
One name who’s been somewhat loosely linked with Sunderland is Brighton and Ireland hotshot Evan Ferguson.
It’s claimed that Sunderland and Leeds United are eyeing Ferguson ahead of the January transfer window with Brighton weighing up a loan exit.
The 20-year-old has fallen down the pecking order after previous battles with injury. He’s scored just once in 11 Premier League outings this season, despite scoring six in each of the last two campaigns.
Now, an emerging report from The Independent has revealed that Fulham are ‘investigating a deal’ for Ferguson in January, with a loan deal touted for the Brighton mam who’s labelled a ‘serious option’ for the Londoners.
Speaking in 2023, then England boss Gareth Southgate labelled Ferguson as a ‘good player’.
Another striker target seems more realistic for Sunderland in January
A loan deal for Ferguson in January always seemed like a longshot for Sunderland, with a Premier League switch much more probable.
Instead, Sunderland may have a more realistic and potentially more fruitful bet in a possible permanent swoop for Celtic’s Daniel Cummings.
Sunderland are keen on Cummings amid his uncertain Celtic future but face competition from a growing number of clubs in England and Europe.
He seems to boast a lot of similar traits to Ferguson in that he’s prolific and powerful, and young too, and Sunderland may much rather have a striker on their books permanently than temporarily.