5 free-agents Sunderland AFC could try sign now or in the summer

Here we take a look at five free agents Sunderland could consider signing either now or in the summer.

For Sunderland, the season has been quite the rollercoaster thus far.

By February, the Black Cats had managed to appoint their third manager of the campaign.

After winning just two of his final nine games in charge, Tony Mowbray, who had led the team from the beginning of the season, was fired in early December.

Then, he was replaced by Michael Beale, but his reign was disastrous and he was fired after just 12 games.

Even though they have a very slim chance of making the playoffs again, Mike Dodds has assumed interim leadership until the end of the campaign.

There are significant issues facing Sunderland right now that need to be addressed both immediately and later this summer.

Although the players they signed last summer are mostly young and should improve for them in the future, their recruiting class has been disappointing thus far.

But one area they did not look into for young players was the free agent market, but this is an area they could dip into in the summer, whilst getting experience to see them over the line in the short term.

Here we take a look at five free agents Sunderland could take a look at bringing in either now or in the summer to solve those problems.

Phil Jones

One position that Sunderland have lacked in depth this season is at centre back.

Phil Jones presents himself as an experienced option who could help them out at the back.

Jones has barely played any football, having played just five games in the last three-and-a-half seasons. But despite this, he has been injury free for over a year and so could play a part in the short term.

A free agent since his release from Manchester United, the 32-year-old could still be a great option to help out the young Sunderland defence and be a real leader for them as they head into the run-in. He is a former Premier League winner, after all.

Lys Mousset

This season, Sunderland’s main issue position has been at striker.

Due to the inability of Luis Hemir Semedo, Mason Burstow, and Nazariy Rusyn to establish themselves as consistent goal scorers, Jack Clarke has had to step up and score goals on the wing.

However, Sunderland urgently need a striker who can score goals, particularly with Clarke sidelined due to injury.

Former Sheffield United and Bournemouth striker Lys Mousset left German team VFL Bochum in January.

He has very limited experience in the Championship, but was clinical when he played in it – he scored three goals in seven matches, averaging 0.84 goals per 90.

He struggled on loan in France last season, and didn’t get a look in Germany, but he has a point to prove and unfinished business in England.

Tyrhys Dolan

Jack Clarke has been arguably the Black Cats’ best player this season.

He has been Sunderland’s top scorer so far, and it has led to a whole host of interest in the summer after he stayed put in January, with a Premier League move on the cards.

So he will need replacing, and whilst his goals may be near impossible to replace, they can still get a young, talented winger with room to improve and who has shown glimpses already of being a top player in the Championship – Tyrhys Dolan.

Currently a winger for Blackburn Rovers, in each of his last three seasons (including this season) he has scored at least four goals, but in a Sunderland team that push their wingers further forward, Dolan would hit higher numbers.

At 22 years old, he is the same age as Clarke, so fits Sunderland’s recruitment strategy of signing talented young players with high potential. Whilst he may not have as high of a ceiling, he certainly would be a shrewd addition.

Tyrese Campbell

Whilst Lys Mousset could be a short-term option until the end of the season, Sunderland would more than likely prefer to have a younger, more long-term option who guarantees goals and will only get better and better.

Tyrese Campbell is out of contract at fellow Championship side Stoke City in the summer, and could be a great option.

A proven goal scorer in the second tier, he has barely got a look in this season, being mainly used as a substitute.

But he has shown in the past how good he can be – even last season, he scored nine goals and got five assists in 41 Championship games.

As aforementioned, Sunderland are desperate for a proven, goal scoring striker, and Campbell has shown to be that. At the age of 24, he has plenty of time to get better and better, too.

Nathan Wood

Another player who has been linked with leaving in the summer is Dan Ballard.

Premier League side Everton are the ones reportedly interested in signing him as a potential replacement for Jarrad Branthwaite.

With that in mind, a centre back will be top of their priority list.

A great option could be Nathan Wood, currently at Swansea City.

The 21-year-old has been a regular for the Swans in the Championship for the last season-and-a-half, after joining from Middlesbrough.

He signed a two-year-deal when joining in 2022, so is now in the final six months of his contract. Former Swansea manager Russell Martin tried to take him with him to Southampton in the summer for £10 million, which tells you all you need to know about how good he is.

At 21, he, like Dolan, also fits Sunderland’s recruitment strategy of bringing in young players with high potential.

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