Championship promotion rivals have made their stance clear surrounding the future of former Sunderland target Marcus Edwards.
Sunderland’s January transfer window was charactarised by Kristjaan Speakman searching high-and-low for ambitious deals, particularly to bolster his attacking options for the latter stages of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.
Sunderland signed Enzo Le Fee from Roma, a deal that shocked many, bit just because of the reputation of the star, but how they were able to get a deal over the line, with a risk-free obligation to buy at the end of the season that would kick in to play if the Black Cats acheived promotion to the Premier League.
Unfortunately for Speakman and the Black Cats, the Le Fee deal wasn’t a sign of things to come. Sunderland had several approaches for strikers knocked back, notably including Sporting CP winger Marcus Edwards, who turned down Sunderland for Burnley on loan.
After the 26-year-old’s six appearances and just one goal so far for Scott Parker’s side, Burnley have seemingly made their mind up over the former Sunderland target.
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Former Sunderland target Marcus Edwards set for long-term Burnley stay as they show interest in permanent deal
Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Edwards opted for Burnley over Sunderland in the latter stages of the January transfer window.
Whilst there were hopes that Sunderland could potentially rekindle interest next season, it looks as though, according to Record, replayed by Sport Witness, who have said that Edwards is ‘unlikely to return’ to his Portuguese parent club.
As a result, Parker’s side are set to launch an effort at the end of the season to keep Edwards at the club past the conclusion of the 2024/25 Championship campaign, likely diminishing any chances of Sunderland signing the 26-year-old in the near future.
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Marcus Edwards signing could have offered Regis Le Bris something more crucial than ability
Aside from the injuries that January signings Le Fee and Jayden Danns have picked up, which can’t exactly be pinned on a bad transfer strategy, Sunderland arguably missed a great opportunity to get some top players through the doors in the winter window.
Because Speakman decided to work strictly with loans and obligations to buy, which worked brilliantly with Le Fee, certainly hampered their chances of some top signings.
Edwards is one that they were unlucky to miss out on, but Sunderland were unable to find an alternative option to the now-Burnley forward, which proved to be an error because of the depth that was needed in wide areas, particularly after Le Fee’s injury.