5 Championship players Sunderland could target in January
We've taken a look at five Championship players Sunderland could add to their squad in January.
Life is good if you’re of a Sunderland persuasion right now, with the high of Sunday’s 1-0 win over Tyne-Wear rivals Newcastle United not yet fading.
However, despite that result only adding to an excellent start to life back in the Premier League, the powers that be at the Stadium of Light will be casting their eye on the upcoming January transfer window. The winter market will be an excellent opportunity to consolidate Sunderland’s position, but after a heavy summer spend, the Black Cats may have to be savvy in who they sign this time around, picking for bargains or high-value targets rather than pulling a host of bodies through the door.
The Championship can be a great place to find that sort of deal, so here are five players from the English second tier that Sunderland should be looking at.
1. Jay Stansfield
- Club: Birmingham City
- Position: Striker
- Age: 23
Birmingham City stole the headlines in the summer of 2024 when they paid Fulham more than £15million to sign striker Jay Stansfield, while they were still in League One. However, the England youth international has repaid them well so far, registering 23 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions in his first season, and nine goals in 22 outings this campaign - including eight goals in the Championship, only five players have more.
Despite signing Brian Brobbey over the summer, Sunderland are light at centre-forward, and a player of Stansfield’s profile certainly fits the club’s modus operandi. Even keeping in mind what Birmingham paid and what he’s done since, Stansfield is likely to be cheaper than a host of top-flight or European-experienced centre-forwards, too.
2. Million Manhoef
- Club: Stoke City
- Position: Winger
- Age: 23
A goalscoring winger may also be a position of interest for Sunderland, with the likes of Simon Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi still waiting to truly ignite. Million Manhoef has been one of the more exciting wingers in the Championship since arriving at Stoke City from Vitesse in January 2024, registering 14 goals and six assists in 69 league appearances so far - and a further two goals in the EFL Cup.
Manhoef has been a key reason behind Stoke’s competitive start to the season - even if they’ve fallen away more recently - while he has a strong record at youth national team level.
3. Hayden Hackney
- Club: Middlesbrough
- Position: Central midfield
- Age: 23
Hayden Hackney is one of the most in-demand players in the Championship right now, and Sunderland would have to go to war with multiple Premier League rivals in order to secure his signing - from a North East rival no less.
But he would be worth every penny, with the 23-year-old first among his teammates in a host of key metrics this season, including passes completed (1104), chances created (32), carries into the final third (52) and possession recoveries (124).
Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki have been sensational in the engine room for Regis Le Bris this season, but Hackney is more than capable of rotating with them, while he’d be an excellent long-term successor for Xhaka, who turns 34 before the start of next season.
4. Harrison Burrows
- Club: Sheffield United
- Position: Left-back
- Age: 23
Sunderland signed two left-backs in the summer in Reinildo and Arthur Masuaku, but both are advancing into their 30s and have recently jetted off to the Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Cats definitely need a long-term succession plan in this position.
Harrison Burrows has proven himself an excellent two-way full-back in the Championship. The 23-year-old has a goal and an assist this season and is second among Blades players for chances created (24), while he’s second for tackles in the defensive (14) and attacking (5) thirds. Last season, he posted six goals and six assists in 46 Championship appearances (including playoffs), following on from a 17-assist haul for Peterborough the campaign prior.
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5. Jack Rudoni
- Club: Coventry City
- Position: Central midfield
- Age: 24
Coventry have been the runaway train of the Championship this season, and Jack Rudoni has been one of their catalysts again.
In terms of raw numbers, the two goals and one assist he’s managed in 12 league outings is actually a comedown from the 10 goals and 12 assists he hit last season. However, Rudoni still leads the way among his teammates for passes into the penalty area (2.32), successful dribbles (1.72) and carries into the final third (3.33) per 90 minutes. He’s also averaged 1.11 chances created and 3.03 shots per 90, remaining dangerous in the final third. It’s surely only a matter of time before the 24-year-old rediscovers his best form.