Regis Le Bris will be looking to make an impact on the Sunderland team this transfer window, as other Championship teams are currently ramping up their efforts to bolster their rosters in anticipation of the upcoming campaign.
As the Frenchman currently occupying the dugout puts together what he hopes is a promotion worthy group, the Black Cats have added just one new player thus far: former Coventry City custodian Simon Moore. However, Moore’s arrival is unlikely to be the only one.
He might even sign a couple of players that could ruffle a few feathers when it comes to the old guard at the Stadium of Light, with an entertaining attacker reportedly on the Championship side’s agenda.
Sunderland interested in loan deal for dazzling youngster
Football journalist reports that Sunderland has joined a plethora of other lower-division teams in their effort to capture Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on loan this summer.
According to Nixon, the Black Cats have inquired about the possibility of a move of this kind. Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers have also expressed interest in the 21-year-old, as have Luton Town, Blackburn Rovers, and numerous other EFL teams.
Why Rak-Sakyi could take Roberts’ spot
The Eagles reserve player, who only saw six Premier League games last season, may find this loan swap appealing. Rak-Sakyi is still well-remembered by many connected to Charlton Athletic for his incredible season-long loan period during the 22–23 campaign.
Rak-Sakyi hasn’t played Championship football in his brief career, but if his time at the Valley is any indication, he should be able to dominate the second division.
The energetic 21-year-old, who was primarily played down the left flank when coming up through Palace’s junior systems, would rack up an extremely outstanding 15 goals and nine assists from 49 total games operating down the right wing in the division below.
| Roberts’ numbers last season in the Championship | |
|---|---|
| Stat | Roberts |
| Games played | 32 |
| Goals scored | 0 |
| Shots per game | 1.3 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Expected assists (xA) | 4.85 |
| Big chances missed | 6 |
| Stats by Sofascore | |
Therefore, if the Eagles attacker were to relocate to Wearside on loan, he could take Roberts’ spot off him without much trouble, considering the ex-Celtic forward failed to score at all last season as can be seen looking at his numbers above, with just two meagre assists also tallied up.
Rak-Sakyi has also begun to make some waves at Selhurst Park in the senior mix to a degree, with former Eagles manager Roy Hodgson even describing the Palace number 49 as possessing a “remarkable maturity” when he was still in charge, as more first-team opportunities began to open up after scoring a staggering 24 goals from just 40 games for the U21s.
Le Bris will also be concerned that Roberts’ in-and-out nature of being in the Stadium of Light treatment room could impact the team next season, especially if they’re low on numbers in the midst of a promotion hunt, with Rak-Sakyi’s adaptability to play down either flank helpful if depth is lacking.
Knowing that the loan gem could fill in for the former Tottenham Hotspur attacker in the worst case scenario may also be a huge benefit if Jack Clarke were to depart this summer.
It’s possible that many of the players at Sunderland have grown too accustomed to their surroundings and require a fresh start. Rak-Sakyi’s arrival may have even encouraged Roberts to return to his best form as the Black Cats aim for a far better league finish in the upcoming campaign.
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