The 2023/24 season is finally over (although some would argue our season was over in February) and all eyes are set on the 2024/25 campaign. Kristjaan Speakman has to get this window spot on if he wants to regain the trust of the Sunderland faithful. Here are five players I’d be going after if I was in the Sporting Director’s position.
VIKTOR JOHANSSON: GOALKEEPER (ROTHERHAM UNITED)
Despite an awful campaign for Rotherham, Johansson had a great one which has seen him attract interest from a number of Championship clubs in the early stages of the summer. At 25, he is still relatively young for a goalkeeper and could be some proper competition for Patterson, if not a replacement should the academy graduate leave the club. Johansson is not only a great shot stopper but also offers a lot with his distribution, which is something many argue is a weakness in Patterson. With a relegation release clause reported at around £900k, it seems a no brainer to look at bringing the Swedish stopper to Wearside next season – as long as we can beat the competition.
ALI McCANN: CENTRAL MIDFIELDER (PRESTON NORTH END)
Adding Championship experience is something many are crying out for at the moment and a player that has 90 Championship appearances to his name, as well as 65 appearances in the top flight of Scotland, could be a useful addition. The 24-year-old Northern Ireland international averaged 3.4 tackles per game, just ahead of teammate Trai Hume, so he could be a good option to play the sitting role that Corry Evans used to occupy. His age also means there is plenty of room for improvement, so McCann could be a shrewd signing for the Black Cats to, if anything, offer some much-needed depth.
KWAME POKU: WINGER (PETERBOROUGH UNITED)
Poku has had a superb season for Peterborough, who fell short in the League One play-off semi-finals. With 11 goals and 7 assists, I would be surprised if the Ghanaian winger is not picked up by a Championship side in the summer. With both Patrick Roberts and Abdoullah Ba struggling last season, I feel Sunderland should be absolutely all over it. The 22-year-old was linked to a move to the Stadium of Light ahead of January, so he could very much be a player on the minds of the recruitment team.
CHRIS WILLOCK: WINGER (FREE AGENT)
Willock is a player that has already been linked with the club, with his contract set to expire at QPR this summer. With over 100 Championship appearances under his belt, the 26-year-old certainly fills the quota of adding experience. He scored four goals and got another four assists last season, he could at the very least be a great option off the bench and, again adds much needed depth to our young squad. With him available on a free there is a sense that there is nothing to lose with bringing him in. Willock also adds a bit of versatility, as he can play on both wings or as a number 10.
LIAM MILLAR: WINGER (FC BASEL)
Formerly of Liverpool, Millar is coming off the back of a solid campaign on loan at Preston where he notched five goals and five assists in 35 Championship games. The Canadian will likely be on the move this summer and with Jack Clarke potentially on his way out this summer, he could be the man to replace him. Fans cannot expect us to immediately find a left winger that scores 15 goals in a season but I feel Millar is one of the better options available. With rumours already suggesting Sunderland have interest, the recruitment team may well be thinking the same thing.
