The potential January transfer priorities emerging for Sunderland and the positions to keep an eye on

After the summer transfer window closed in August, sporting director Kristjaan Speakman made clear that attention would quickly turn towards January. Sunderland’s recruitment operation runs all-year round and the preparations for a crucial month in the campaign will be intensifying.

Though there are still fifteen games to the January window and a lot can clearly change between now and then, a strong start to the campaign under Régis Le Bris raises hopes that Sunderland will be going into that window from a position of strength. 

Sunderland will hope that they will go into the window not needing to do extensive business, adding real quality to their side rather than having to fill a number of positions. In theory, their squad depth is good and shouldn’t require a raft of new arrivals - which is why the fitness of a number of players is going to be key in determining just how active they are.

Coming out of the summer window, there were two positions in which Sunderland were light and which in theory they might have liked to further strengthen the squad. 

While they were busy recruiting in forward areas in the window as a whole, that they were until the final stages of the window trying to recruit another senior striker (with Chelsea’s David Datro Fofana one target) was a reflection of the fact that they felt they were a little light in that part of the pitch. Since then, though, the picture has changed somewhat. Wilson Isidor was recruited in part to help fill the void left by Jack Clarke’s departure on the left but Romaine Mundle has continued to thrive in that position and Eliezer Mayenda’s minor injury saw the Zenit loanee move through the middle. He has performed admirably since, with two goals in three starts and showing an impressive poacher’s instinct inside the box. Then there is Aaron Connolly, signed on a one-year deal and who is expected to make his debut at some stage at Hull City this weekend. Connolly impressed behind the scenes at the Academy of Light with his fitness levels and there is quiet confidence that he is in a position where he can make a real impact in the weeks ahead. And though he is a signing made for the long term rather than the here and now, deadline-day addition Ahmed Abdullahi is expected to be fit and in contention for selection by the turn of the year. In theory, then, Sunderland could have five centre forwards competing for one position when you add Nazariy Rusyn to the mix. If Connolly does not have the kind of impact hopes or the others are struggling either with fitness or form, then you strongly expect that Sunderland will go back into the market to try and recruit the kind of proven operator who could be the difference in the final months of the campaign. It is no longer the certainty it looked in the early days of September, though.

The other position where Sunderland were clearly left light was in the fullback positions. Timothee Pembele’s departure on loan was widely expected given his struggles since arriving from PSG, but it left the club without any cover for Trai Hume. That they are walking something of a tightrope in that position has been underlined by the fact that Hume has played the last three games knowing he is one yellow card away from a suspension. Niall Huggins is recovering from major knee surgery but is not expected to return to training until the new year and as such, is unlikely to play any significant part until later in the season. Le Bris has previously suggested that he is comfortable with his defensive depth, likely either to move to a back three which would see Luke O’Nien move to the right, but this is clearly one position where Sunderland could in theory strengthen. 

Fundamentally, Sunderland’s January business is likely to be shaped by how many of those currently sidelined or not involved fare between now and then. Though Sunderland’s squad is far from small, Le Bris has for much of this season been unable to make significant changes from the bench in games. Ian Poveda is yet to make his first start, while Salis Abdil Samed has not made an appearance of any kind. Neither has Milan Aleksic, though like Abdullahi he was signed with one eye on future campaigns. If that picture doesn’t change substantially between now and the window, then Sunderland will need to add more firepower in the wide and attacking midfield positions if they are going to stand any realistic chance of maintaining their form all the way until the end of the season. With the sale of Jack Clarke to Ipswich Town banking a significant profit, then Sunderland should have scope to invest.

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Outgoings are also going to be an important part of the process, not necessarily for budgetary reasons but more to ensure the competitiveness and harmony of the squad. Though Abdoullah Ba has returned to the matchday squad of late, neither he nor Adil Aouchiche appears to be in Le Bris’s longer-term plans and finding a move seems the best option for all concerned. Similarly, Rusyn might find his opportunities increasingly squeezed now that Connolly is available for selection. 

Jordan Henderson is so far the highest profile and most eye-catching rumour to develop but Sunderland will be assessing their options in a number of positions. For now, those in the squad still have the opportunity to show they can make those roles their own.