Sunderland look like they’re closing in on their second signing of the January transfer window.
Sunderland got their transfer matters underway with the permanent signing of defender Leo Hjelde from Leeds United yesterday.
It’s their first signing of the month and Michael Beale‘s first as head coach. And it looks like the 43-year-old could be treated to one or two more new faces before the transfer window slams shut at 11pm tomorrow.
One player who’s tipped to arrive at the Stadium of Light is former Tottenham prospect Romaine Mundle.
Fabrizio Romano says that Sunderland have now agreed a deal to sign the Standard Liege man on a permanent deal.
Romaine Mundle, the story so far
The 20-year-old was born in London and rose through the ranks at Spurs, where he signed his first professional contract in 2021.
He made his first-team debut for the club during the 2021/22 season in the Europa Conference League under Nuno Espirito Santo, but couldn’t make any further impact on the first-team that season.
Mundle then sealed a permanent move to Belgian giants Standard Liege last summer after rejecting a new contract offer from Spurs.
This season, the winger has featured six times in the Jupiler Pro League for Liege, with no goal contributions.
Romaine Mundle player profile
- Age: 20
- Date of birth: 24/04/2003
- Position: Winger
- Club: Standard Liege
- Former clubs: Tottenham Hotspur
- Nationality: English
- Contract: Until June 2027
What they say about Sunderland target Romaine Mundle
“Romaine is a very talented young winger who has many qualities; he can play on both sides, he has speed and percussion, he has good ball handling and a good finish… Today he is ready to take a step forward in his career and is very enthusiastic about taking up the challenge offered by our club,” – Standard Liege Fergal Harkin after signing Mundle.
“A pacy, tricky left-winger who has a trademark cut-in and bend into the far corner of the goal finish to him, Romaine really developed into one of the key players for Spurs U21’s during the 22-23 season,” – The Lilywhite Rose podcast.
Romaine Mundle to Sunderland analysis
A winger doesn’t seem like it was high on Sunderland’s list of transfer priorities this month, but it’s certainly a position that is thin on the ground.
Jack Clarke and Abdoulah Ba are Sunderland’s main options right now and it looks almost certain that the Black Cats will lose Clarke, either in the final hours of this month’s transfer window or next summer, unless the club achieves promotion.
So Sunderland are looking ahead with this signing, and it’s certainly an exciting signing too; he was clearly held in high regards at Spurs given his contract offer there, and his move to Liege shows that he has ambition to play first-team football.
He still lacks experience but he remains a very young player with huge potential, and after seeing how the Black Cats have developed former Spurs talents Clarke and Dennis Cirkin, Mundle should be confident that Sunderland can help elevate his game to the next level.