Sunderland are presently sitting in tenth place within the Championship table after a 3-1 defeat to Swansea on the Stadium of Gentle within the division on Saturday.
The Black Cats are three factors off the highest six and a whopping 16 factors off the automated promotion locations because it stands, which means that the play-offs are a practical goal for the membership to set heading into the final 19 matches of the marketing campaign.
Tony Mowbray and Kristjaan Speakman could now work collectively to strengthen the squad within the closing two weeks of the January switch window with a purpose to enhance their probabilities of sneaking into competition for promotion by the top of the season.
One participant the membership have been linked with an curiosity in is Leeds United attacker Joe Gelhardt. It was not too long ago reported that the gem may very well be loaned out if the Premier League aspect signed Georginio Rutter and the Hoffenheim winger has since accomplished a transfer to Elland Highway, which may open the door for Sunderland to swoop for the English teenager.
The Black Cats should try and snap up the previous Wigan dynamo on mortgage till the top of the season as he has the potential to be a wonderful addition to the squad.
Soccer expertise scout Jacek Kulig as soon as described him as “probably the most proficient” children in England and dubbed the ahead the “new Wayne Rooney”.
That is hefty reward for Gelhardt as Rooney racked up 53 targets for England alongside 208 targets and 114 assists in 491 Premier League appearances all through his profession.
Like the Manchester United legend, the 20-year-old Leeds ahead predominantly plays as a centre-forward however can even play as a second striker together with his construct, as he’s not a typical 6-foot plus quantity 9 at 5-foot-10, suiting a deeper position.
Gelhardt has proven loads of indicators of promise since becoming a member of the Whites and his type at youth and senior stage signifies that he may very well be Sunderland’s personal mini-Rooney within the Championship.
The 20-year-old attacker scored 20 targets and supplied six assists in 31 appearances for Leeds’ under-21 aspect and has showcased his expertise within the first-team with two targets and six assists in six Premier League begins – making 35 appearances in whole.
Gelhardt – who Kulig as soon as hailed as being “too good” – may thrive by dropping down into the Championship as he has already proven that he can produce, in restricted minutes, high quality moments within the high flight.
Now, think about him arriving on the Stadium of Gentle and making a big impact by scoring and helping targets regularly up entrance alongside Ross Stewart as Mowbray’s personal model of Rooney…