‘Star quality’ - Millwall boss reveals summer interest in Sunderland’s Ellis Simms and praise for Manchester United loanee

Gary Rowett has revealed he wanted to sign Ellis Simms from Everton in the summer before he joined Sunderland on-loan.
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Despite injury problems disrupting his season, Simms has scored five goals in 13 league games this season, helping to fire Sunderland into the top-half. Simms added the third in Sunderland’s 3-0 win over Millwall last time out, and Lions boss Rowett has revealed he wanted to sign the striker this summer.

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Speaking about the potential of adding loan players to his squad in January, Rowett told News At Den: “There’s good players everywhere and you’re always looking for someone that can make a difference.”

Gary Rowett has revealed he wanted to sign Ellis Simms in summer before he joined Sunderland (Picture by FRANK REID)Gary Rowett has revealed he wanted to sign Ellis Simms in summer before he joined Sunderland (Picture by FRANK REID)
Gary Rowett has revealed he wanted to sign Ellis Simms in summer before he joined Sunderland (Picture by FRANK REID)
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“The challenge we have, and it’s the same challenge this year, is that when you end up signing three or four loan players, in the summer the reality is that you’re probably going to have to sign another three or four players again. In an ideal world, you want more continuity in your squad, it’s something that we probably, as a club, need to be mindful of.

“Then again, you always want to maximise the position for the budget and sometimes that might be a loan player rather than a permanent player. Ellis Simms is an example of that at Sunderland. He’s a player we tried to sign, he went to Sunderland and although he’s on loan, he’s someone you might not be able to buy at this level at that age.

“I don’t think anything is black and white, you’re always making a decision on that position, what’s available and what the options are. I don’t think there’s a specific target on a loan player or for a permanent one.”

Rowett also described Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo as a player with 'star quality' (Picture by FRANK REID)Rowett also described Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo as a player with 'star quality' (Picture by FRANK REID)
Rowett also described Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo as a player with 'star quality' (Picture by FRANK REID)

Rowett also singled out another one of Sunderland’s loan additions for praise, describing Amad Diallo, who also netted during Saturday’s win at the Stadium of Light, as a player with ‘star quality’. Rowett said: “I think Manchester United paid a hell of a lot of money for him, I’m led to believe. Someone mentioned 30 odd million quid. He’s obviously a player with that star quality and Sunderland have been starting to get that out of him a bit more consistently.”