Championship: Leeds United 'linked' with hijacking double Sunderland transfer deal ahead of January window
Championship promotion rivals Leeds United have been linked with two Sunderland-wanted players ahead of the January transfer window
Leeds United have been linked with hijacking deals for two players that Sunderland are reportedly targeting.
The Championship club are reportedly “set to sign” Australian keeper Robbie Cook after a trial at Elland Road in recent weeks. Cook, 17, was wanted by Manchester United and Sunderland and even went on trial with the Black Cats over the summer months. However, The Sun now claim that the Whites are set to win the race for the young shot-stopper’s signature.
Sunderland are blessed with highly-rated young goalkeepers. Number one Anthony Patterson is still only 24. The Black Cats also have Salford City loanee Matty Young and Blyth Spartans loanee Adam Richardson alongside Dan Cameron, who are still on their books.
In other transfer-related news, Leeds United and Sunderland are two of four Championship sides fighting to sign 15-goal winger Louie Barry in January.
The Aston Villa youngster is currently on loan at Stockport County, where he has netted 15 goals so far this season for the League One team. That form has prompted speculation that the attacker will be recalled in January and sent back out on loan to the Championship.
A Darren Witcoop in the Sunday Mirror claims that Louie Barry will be recalled from his loan spell with Stockport in the New Year, and will then be sent out on loan immediately to a club in the second tier. He also adds that there “four-way scrap” between the top teams in the division, including Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Burnley, and Sunderland.
Witcoop adds that all four sides are “all keen” on securing a transfer that could help give them the edge in the promotion race. The 21-year-old enjoyed a stint at Barcelona before moving to Villa in 2020.