Five free agents. Sunderland AFC might try to sign now or in the summer.
Here, we look at five free agents who Sunderland might sign now or in the summer.
Sunderland’s season has been a rollercoaster ride thus far.
By February, the Black Cats had gone through three managers this season.
Tony Mowbray began the season in control, but was fired in early December after winning only two of his last nine games in charge.
Michael Beale was then named his successor, however his reign was a catastrophe, and he was fired after just 12 games.
Mike Dodds has now taken over as temporary manager until the end of the season, with the goal of getting them back into the play-offs, although having a little chance.
Sunderland now has issues in critical areas that need be addressed in the short term, followed by long-term solutions in the summer.
So far, their summer recruiting has been underwhelming, but the majority of the players are young and should improve their chances in the future.
| Sunderland – 2023/24 Summer Signings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player Name | Signed From | Loan/Permanent |
| Nazariy Rusyn | Zorya Lugansk | Permanent |
| Jenson Seelt | PSV | Permanent |
| Jobe Bellingham | Birmingham City | Permanent |
| Eliezer Mayenda | FC Sochaux | Permanent |
| Luis Semedo | Benfica B | Permanent |
| Nectarios Triantis | Central Coast | Permanent |
| Bradley Dack | Blackburn Rovers | Permanent |
| Timothee Pembele | PSG | Permanent |
| Adil Aouchiche | FC Lorient | Permanent |
| Nathan Bishop | Man United | Permanent |
| Mason Burstow | Chelsea | Loan |
However, one area they did not consider for young players was the free agency market, which is something they may explore this summer while gaining experience to help them cross over the line in the short term.
Here, we look at five free agents that Sunderland may sign now or in the summer to help fix their difficulties.
Phil Jones
Sunderland have lacking depth at centre back this season.
Phil Jones offers himself as an experienced alternative who can assist them in the back.
Jones has played in only five games over the previous three and a half seasons. Despite this, he has been injury-free for more than a year and might contribute in the short future.
The 32-year-old, who has been a free agent since being released by Manchester United, might still be an excellent choice to aid the youthful Sunderland defence and serve as a true leader as they approach the end of the season. After all, he was a Premier League winner once before.
Lys Mousset
This season, Sunderland has struggled significantly at the striker position.
Nazariy Rusyn, Mason Burstow, and Luis Hemir Semedo have all failed to establish themselves as consistent goal scorers, forcing Jack Clarke to step up and score on the wing.
Sunderland require a short-term striker to replace Clarke, who is now unavailable due to injury.
Lys Mousset, a former Bournemouth and Sheffield United striker, departed German club VFL Bochum in January.
Despite scant experience in the Championship, he scored three goals in seven matches, with an average of 0.84 goals per 90 minutes.
He failed on loan in France last season and did not have a chance in Germany, but he has a point to prove and unfinished business in England.
Tyrys Dolan
Sunderland’s leading scorer has sparked interest from Premier League clubs, despite staying put in January.
So he will need to be replaced, and while his goals may be nearly hard to replace, they may still sign Tyrhys Dolan, a young, promising winger with potential to grow who has showed signs of being a top player in the Championship.
Currently a winger for Blackburn Rovers, Dolan has scored at least four goals in each of his previous three seasons, including this season. However, on a Sunderland squad that pushes their wingers farther forward, Dolan may achieve even more.
At 22 years old, he is the same age as Clarke and so matches Sunderland’s recruitment policy of acquiring outstanding young players with tremendous potential. While he may not have as high a potential, he would be an excellent acquisition.
While Lys Mousset may be a short-term solution until the end of the season, Sunderland would most likely prefer a younger, more long-term alternative who promises goals and will only improve with time.
Tyrese Campbell, who is out of contract at Stoke City, might be a viable alternative.
He is a proven second-tier goal scorer who has seen little playing time this season, primarily as a substitute.
But he has already demonstrated his ability; even last season, he scored nine goals and five assists in 41 Championship games.
As previously said, Sunderland is in serious need of a proven, goal-scoring striker, and Campbell has shown to be just that. At the age of 24, he still has lots of time to improve.
Dan Ballard is another player said to be departing in the summer.
Everton are apparently interested in signing him as a replacement for Jarrad Branthwaite.
With that in mind, a center back will be their main priority.
Nathan Wood, who presently plays for Swansea City, is a viable alternative.
The 21-year-old has been a regular for the Swans in the Championship for the past season-and-a-half, signing from Middlesbrough.
He signed a two-year contract when he joined in 2022 and is now in the last six months of it. Russell Martin, former Swansea manager, attempted to sign him for Southampton in the summer for £10 million, indicating his exceptional talent.
At 21, he, like Dolan, fits into Sunderland’s recruitment philosophy of bringing in young players with strong promise.
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