Sunderland AFC News

Beloved former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has taken the job at West Brom, and already he’s dealing transfer blows to the Black Cats ahead of deadline day.

Time is really running out for Sunderland to sign a new striker. Recent reports have revealed that Sunderland are tracking several attackers ahead of deadline day, but more and more are moving elsewhere.

On Friday, it was revealed that Chuba Akpom is moving to Lille despite strong interest from Sunderland, and it doesn’t look like the former Middlesbrough man will be the only one to snub Sunderland.

Kristjaan Speakman has several known targets going into February 3rd’s deadline day. Matija Frigan, Emil Riis, and Semih Kilicsoy are a few of the names who’ve been linked with a move to the Stadium of Light.

But there’s likely a horde of names who Sunderland are trying to sign, and whose names hasn’t gotten into the media yet. One such name is Will Lankshear, but he won’t be joining the Black Cats this month.

Sunderland wanted to sign Spurs’ Will Lankshear, West Brom win race

West Brom appointed Tony Mowbray earlier in January. Mowbray lost his first game in charge 2-0 against Middlesbrough, but he’s since bounced back with a resounding 5-1 win over Portsmouth.

And the Baggies’ frontline has now been bolstered by the arrival of Spurs youngster Lankshear on loan for the remainder of the season. If he sounds familiar to Black Cats fans, it’s because Lankshear was linked with Sunderland during the summer transfer window.

Posting on X, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed that both Sunderland Middlesbrough were keen to sign Lankshear in this January transfer window, before West Brom swooped in.

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Another Sunderland target is joining a Championship rival

It’s not been a good few days for Sunderland in the transfer market. Akpom has snubbed a move to Wearside and now Lankshear has linked up with Mowbray, for whom it could be a bit of revenge after his reported fall out with Speakman and co at Sunderland.

Another move that Sunderland fans might have missed was Harvey Vale. Sunderland have wanted to sign the Chelsea man throughout January but recent reports revealed that Vale is set to join QPR.

Where Sunderland are going wrong remains to be seen. But this is the trickery of the January transfer window and Speakman won’t start feeling sorry for himself.

He’s been here before and it still seems highly likely that he’ll pull off a striker signing before the window shuts.

Sunderland have a number of top players that other clubs would love to sign this month or in the summer, but one starlet in particular has been suggested as a Tottenham target.

Thanks to the immense success Sunderland have enjoyed under Regis Le Bris already this season, it’s not surprising that plenty of the Black Cats’ best players are being linked with moves away from Wearside.

So far this month, the confirmed Sunderland transfers have been very positive, with Enzo Le Fee arriving on loan from Roma, and the out-of-favour Aaron Connolly departing for Millwall on a free.

However, there is still a fortnight to go in the January transfer window, and Sunderland will have to guard their prized assets with all they have.

David O’Brien claims Chris Rigg would be perfect for Tottenham project

Discussing Tottenham Hotspur and where they need to improve in the transfer window this month on Sky Sports, David O’Brien (AKA Statman Dave) mooted Chris Rigg as a potential option for the Lilywhites, praising the youngster’s incredible talent despite his age.

He said: “Do Spurs play for the future? I think you look at the Spurs squad, the likes of Archie Gray, a fantastic talent, build on that. Looking at the Championship, Chris Rigg has been sensational for Sunderland.

“When you watch him, he plays so far ahead of where he is now at just 17-years-old. In terms of goal involvements, Rigg has seven this season; that’s one more than Jude Bellingham managed before his move to Borussia Dortmund. That’s the type of signing I think Spurs need for the future.”

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It is worth noting that Rigg actually has five goal contributions this season, not seven. But still, the 17-year-old has made himself a key figure in Le Bris’ tantalising midfield roster, and there is sure to be plenty more to come.

Rigg is certainly wanted by Premier League clubs, though Tottenham have not necessarily been mentioned in conjunction with the teenager previously. Whether he is actually the kind of player they want or need right now, is another matter.

Chris Rigg should stay at Sunderland until the summer

Rigg has come a long way since his debut for the Black Cats two years ago, and is now one of the most valuable players in the Championship, and certainly one of the most exciting talents in the second tier.

There is no doubt he is destined to play in the Premier League one day, but Rigg himself has rubbished rumours of his exit and pledged his commitment to his boyhood club.

While Sunderland remain in the promotion race, it would make very little sense for Rigg to move on anyway. Why abandon the club he loves now, when he could be playing in the top flight with Sunderland next season?

However, if Sunderland were to fail in their promotion charge this term, then come the summer, the Black Cats would definitely have to consider their options and it would be a lot more difficult to keep Rigg at the club.

In one of the more shocking FA Cup games of the weekend, non-league Tamworth took Tottenham Hotspur to extra-time, which should be of great interest to Sunderland fans.

Of all the ties in the FA Cup third round, few would have expected National League outfit Tamworth to get anything from a home clash with Premier League giants Tottenham.

But, the underdogs frustrated Spurs for 90 minutes, and Sunderland invertedly had a big part to play in the way things turned out.

Indeed, Regis Le Bris must be pleased with what he saw from the game, as one Sunderland player out on loan was very impressive on the day for Tamworth.

Ben Crompton part of impressive Tamworth side that holds Spurs in 90 minutes

Ben Crompton ended up being one of the highest-rated Tamworth players in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham with a 7.0 rating from SofaScore, and the Sunderland academy product can hold his head high after his latest display for his temporary team.

Tamworth frustrated the supposedly superior Spurs for the full 90 minutes of normal time, and Crompton managed to keep the likes of Mikey Moore, Sergio Reguilon, and even Heung-min Son (in extra-time) at bay.

Crompton registered eight tackles on the day, plus a massive 11 clearances. Perhaps more impressive, though, is the fact that he only lost four duels throughout the game.

While Crompton will wish he had been more effective in his passing — he completed just 63% of his 19 passes — the youngster’s all-round game was exceptional, and he did not look out of place against top flight opposition.

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What’s next for Ben Crompton?

Crompton is gaining valuable experience at a lower, yet highly-competitive and very physically demanding level in the National League this season, and it will serve him well for the future.

It’s hard to imagine him making the jump to the senior Sunderland squad next season, but a loan move to League Two or even League One is not unthinkable given the progress Crompton has made this season.

With Le Bris’ propensity for giving young talent a chance, you never really know what the next 12 months may hold for Crompton. He will surely get some kind of opportunity to at least show what he can do over the summer, but a lot will depend on what league Sunderland are playing in next term.

Sunderland have received the positive news that Anthony Patterson is likely to stay at Sunderland until the end of the season.

Patterson has been linked to Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks, but Spurs are now thought to be prepared to wait until the summer.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has opted to rely on Fraser Forster while Guglielmo Vicario continues recovery from an ankle injury, instead of making a January move.

Patterson has also been linked with Manchester United. The Red Devils’ current second choice, Altay Bayindir, is set to leave, so they are in need of a replacement.

But Patterson himself has spoken about his desire to achieve promotion. He told the Sunderland Echo: “I think the aim is promotion this year for all the lads. It’s a great feeling around the club, the atmosphere in the dressing room is great, so it’s going well.”

However, if Patterson were to leave the Stadium of Light, who could Regis Le Bris look to bring in?

Guillaume Restes

Guillaume Restes is the latest goalkeeping prodigy from the French youth setup. The 19-year-old has played for the under-21s and under-23s and has kept six clean sheets in 15 league appearances for Toulouse this season.

He has conceded 17 goals and his save percentage is 67% this campaign. He is proactive and has an aggressive streak, which may suit the high intensity of English football.

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Restes also received the honour of carrying the Olympic torch at Paris 2024 and was part of the France squad which claimed a silver medal.

Kristjaan Speakman, Sporting Director at Sunderland, has a tendency to target players from the French leagues, so could continue this pattern. Adil Aouchiche, Salis Abdul Samed, Timothee Pembele and Eliezer Mayenda all came from French clubs.

Lukas Jensen

Millwall’s keeper Lukas Jensen has made an impressive start to life at the Den and was highly regarded during his time at Lincoln City. He secured a move to the championship for just £400k last summer, after making 45 appearances for the Imps.

Jensen has kept eight clean sheets this season and has conceded just 18 goals in 21 appearances for the Terriers. The Dane has conceded 0.86 goals per 90 minutes. Only Sheffield United’s Michael Cooper and Leeds’ Illan Meslier have a better record for keepers who have made five or more appearances

James Beadle

Another option is James Beadle, the Brighton loanee currently at Sheffield Wednesday. The Englishman has previously been described by Wednesday manager Danny Rohl as a ‘game-changer’.

Beadle has looked solid during his extended spell at the Owls; he was also on loan there during the 23/24 season. This season the England under-20 international has a 62% save percentage and has conceded 1.36 goals per 90, across 22 appearances.

The January transfer window is an exciting time for most clubs, and Sunderland have a real chance to do something special this season if they make the right moves in the New Year.

Sunderland are still right in the fight for promotion in the Championship after finding some good form once more, and Regis Le Bris has a great squad at his disposal.

As things stand, Le Bris has Sunderland on course for the Premier League, but the Black Cats will need to remain consistent, and there’s still room for improvement, too.

We know Le Bris would prefer to develop young players rather than signing new ones, but one or two new additions to the squad could make all the difference in the second half of the campaign.

Will Lankshear has to be a target for Sunderland

Sunderland fans agree a new striker is needed to take the team to the next level, and in Tottenham Hotspur’s Will Lankshear, the Black Cats could have the perfect signing.

The 19-year-old made quite the name for himself as his prolific form helped Tottenham’s youth side win the Premier League 2 title last season, and he’s now on the fringes of Ange Postecoglou’s first-team squad.

Postecoglou has named Lankshear as a player he ‘loves watching‘ in training, but while the youngster is likely to get minutes here and there this season, it may be better for his development to get regular game time on loan for the rest of the campaign.

Sunderland registered interest in Lankshear over the summer, but it is thought a change of heart at Spurs saw the striker stick around after it was expected he would depart on loan.

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It remains to be seen whether Spurs still feel the need to keep hold of him now, but if he is available, there are not many players better-suited to Sunderland’s needs.

Lankshear is a big, strong striker who offers impeccable hold-up play, but he’s also great with his feet, and could be exactly the kind of target man who can allow the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg to get amongst the goals, too.

Most importantly, though, Lankshear is brilliant in front of goal, and capable of scoring all kinds of different goals. With the kind of service he could expect from the wings and from Sunderland’s creative midfield, the Spurs man would surely bag an abundance of goals in the second tier.

Wilson Isidor needs support and competition to get back to his best

Sunderland actually have a lot of strikers in their squad, but only Wilson Isidor has shown any signs of providing enough goals to help the Black Cats win promotion.

Isidor’s goals have dried up of late, though, and he’s now gone six games without hitting the back of the net.

Still, Isidor was praised for his efforts in the win over Swansea City last weekend, and he will surely start firing again soon. The Frenchman just needs time, and more importantly, some proper competition to kick him into gear.

The January transfer window can be an exciting time, but it could be a worrying period for Sunderland as they desperately cling onto their best players.

After a strong start to the season, Sunderland looked destined for a surprise return to the Premier League in Regis Le Bris’ first year with the club.

However, the Black Cats have suffered a drastic dip in form of late and are now without a win in six matches, leaving them fourth in the Championship table.

We already know that Le Bris is putting an emphasis on developing young talent when it comes to his January plans, but that could all be derailed as rumours swirl surrounding one of his key players.

Anthony Patterson is a target for Manchester United

It would seem Sunderland are going to have a big fight on their hands to keep hold of their number one goalkeeper, Anthony Patterson.

According to the latest from the Daily Mail, Manchester United are keen to take a look at their roster of goalkeepers in the New Year, with current number two, Altay Bayindir, thought to be on his way out of Old Trafford.

As a result, United are looking to bring in a younger alternative to Tom Heaton, and have identified Sunderland stopper Patterson as an option. It is believed the Red Devils are keeping tabs on the 24-year-old in the run up to January.

We know Tottenham Hotspur have also targeted Anthony Patterson as a potential solution to their goalkeeping issues, with Guglielmo Vicario currently out injured.

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Sunderland have big decision to make if Anthony Patterson leaves

Sunderland rely on the ‘unbelievable’ Patterson so much, and if he were to depart in January it would leave a huge hole in Le Bris’ squad.

Whether Simon Moore and Blondy Nna Noukeu would be deemed strong enough to take over between the sticks for the second half of the campaign is up for debate, and Sunderland may end up looking at the market for a new goalkeeper themselves.

However, one Sunderland star out on loan could be the answer. Matty Young has just begun to excel at Salford after being given the chance to shine in the FA Cup, and the 18-year-old made an impressive league debut on Tuesday night, too.