Sunderland’s loan-to-buy deal for Callum Styles could suggest they are ready to ‘focus their money’ on one key position.
Sunderland have already completed two permanent transfers this week, welcoming Leo Hjelde and Romaine Mundle to the club for around £4 million.
The Black Cats also look set to resurrect a deal for Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles, who had been in talks with the club last week before everything went quiet.
Styles now looks increasingly likely to move to the Stadium of Light before tonight’s deadline, which is expected to be a loan with an obligation to buy in the summer.
Journalist Michael Graham has now claimed that the initial loan deal could suggest that Sunderland will look to ‘focus their money’ on bringing in a striker today.
Writing on X, he said: “Loan to buy on Styles (meaning the fee pushed into next season’s accounts for FFP) suggests #SAFC trying to focus their money on a striker today. But, as we know, they’re not traditionally very good at that…”
What does this mean for Sunderland?
While the loan deal could well just mean Sunderland simply can’t afford to buy Callum Styles this month, we do know that the club surely still have money available from Ross Stewart’s exit.
The Scot joined Southampton for around £10m in the summer, and £4m of that has been spent in recent days.
While we definitely don’t expect the Black Cats to splash such a significant fee today, Styles’ initial loan move could prove important in Kristjaan Speakman‘s bid to bring in a new forward.
Could the club consider spending their cash on a permanent deal for Kieffer Moore? It still seems unlikely as he nears a move to Ipswich Town, but it surely can’t be ruled out.
There seem to be very few options elsewhere that Sunderland can look at though, and supporters will be all too used to being let down in the striker department.