The January transfer window is looming, and while Sunderland might want to bolster their squad, they also have decisions to make on existing players, too.
Sunderland had an immense start to the Championship campaign, but a run of six games without a win has seen the Black Cats slip to fourth place in the table this weekend.
Regis Le Bris has suggested he is not concerned by the recent ‘struggle’, and the Sunderland manager has underlined the importance of viewing the bigger picture of the progress his team have made.
Still, Le Bris insists he will prioritise the development of young players at Sunderland before diving into the transfer market.
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Ben Crompton could be heading to Scotland
Sunderland have a number of youngsters out on loan currently, but one of them could be set for a change of scenery in the New Year.
That’s according to Alan Nixon, who shared an update on Ben Crompton on his Patreon over the weekend, suggesting the defender is being eyed for a switch to Scotland.
Crompton is currently with National League side Tamworth, but Nixon claims the 20-year-old is “wanted on loan” by Scottish Championship outfit, Queen’s Park.
It is said Crompton could now get the opportunity to play at a “higher level” with a club who are in the hunt for promotion in the second half of the campaign.
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Move to Queen’s Park would be good for Crompton on one condition
So far, Crompton has played the full 90 minutes of his league debut for Tamworth, and another 120 minutes in the FA Cup second round win over Burton Albion at the weekend.
It is clear that Tamworth are going to utilise the Sunderland academy star if he stays there, and that kind of consistency would be difficult to walk away from for a young player desperate for minutes.
Obviously, if Queen’s Park can guarantee that Crompton will be playing regularly, then heading North of the border makes a lot of sense and would do wonders for his development.
However, if there is even a slight risk that he will be on reduced game time with Queen’s Park, Sunderland should leave Crompton where he is.