Sunderland transfer news: Johnson wants new duo, David Moyes eyes ex-Black Cats player

The Black Cats slumped to a miserable 2-1 loss against a Pilgrims side who have struggled immensely on the road this term, and the result leaves the Wearsiders with something of a mountain to climb if they are to drag themselves back into contention for a promotion place this year.

New signings would, therefore, be very welcome at the Stadium of Light, and the Sunderland Echo’s own Phil Smith has revealed in a transfer Q and A that Johnson is still on the lookout for two new players.

He wrote: “Ideally, Johnson would like to make two additions before the window shuts.

"The head coach has talked of finding a ‘different dynamic’ in the final third, and wants to find a player capable of stretching the opposition defence throughout games. Pace is a desired attribute, but Johnson outlined earlier this week that most important of all is the willingness and physical capacity to make those runs in behind and recover quickly enough to keep doing it for 90 minutes.”

The report also suggests that a new left-back is an increasing priority following the recent injury blow suffered by Denver Hume.

The full-back has averaged nearly seven crosses per game this season, as well as making 4.36 dribbles per 90 minutes, and taking that kind of presence out of a side is always going to be keenly felt – especially when deputy Callum McFadzean has managed just 1.61 deliveries and 1.84 runs this term.

Elsewhere, there are a couple of interesting tidbits involving strikers doing the rounds.

First up, it would appear that Hull City are not interested in signing reported Sunderland target Jayden Stockely.

Speaking to BBC Humberside, Tigers boss Grant McCann gave a straight denial when asked if his side are keen on the Preston North End forward, adding: “We’re happy with our business, we feel as if we’ve got a good squad now and everyone’s chomping at the bit to play”.

The 27-year-old has struck just one goal in 16 Championship outings this term, and scored the only League One goal of his career during a spell with Leyton Orient eight years ago.

There could also be a reunion on the cards for two men who probably aren’t the most popular of figures on Wearside.

According to talkSPORT, West Ham manager David Moyes could turn to ex-Black Cats frontman Josh Maja in his search to replace recently-departed hitman Sebastien Haller.

The 22-year-old lit up League One when Sunderland first dropped down to the third tier, but things got a little messy when it came to him securing a move to Bordeaux in January 2019.

The Mackems stumbled a little without his goals, and who knows where they might have ended up had they been able to hang on to the striker for the remainder of that 2018/19 campaign.

Maja could be in line for a major move to the top flight, however, despite having failed to find the back of the net in Ligue 1 since October.

We’ve gathered the rest of today’s League One transfer speculation below: