With pre-season training starting today, here are the latest transfer rumours on Wearside and beyond.
DAJAKU TO HAJDUK SPLIT
Leon Dajaku, who signed permanently for Sunderland last summer after a loan spell, is reportedly close to joining Croatian side Hajduk Split. The 22-year-old German winger spent most of last season out on loan at St Gallen, in which he ended up being sent off twice in just 13 appearances and only managed to complete a full game once. With new signing Jobe Bellingham taking his number (seven) a move away from Wearside always seemed likely for Dajaku moving into this campaign. It's not yet clear whether this move would be permanent or another loan. Overall this will be a positive move for him; Hajduk Split will play in Europe this season (at least the qualifiers for the Conference League) and won the Croatian Cup last season, so Dajaku has the opportunity to experience European football and perhaps some silverware. As well as this he will play a lot more football, he is still only 22 so with regular game time he can definitely turn his career around.
BID FOR CLARKE TURNED DOWN
Newly promoted Premier League side Burnley have had a second bid turned down for Jack Clarke, this time the offer consisted of £10 million in instalments. The 22-year-old made 50 appearances for us last season and scored 11 goals and chipped in with 13 assists. Clearly the Sunderland hierarchy view the primarily left-winger as being worth a lot more than £10 million, rightfully so might I add.
SUNDERLAND FAVOURED BY EX-LOAN PLAYER
This is the newest development in the Amad Diallo potentially returning to Wearside saga, with the player (according to Fabrizio Romano) favouring a return to Sunderland if Manchester United choose to loan him out again for this season. With a return to SAFC perhaps once being seen as nothing more than a hopeful dream for our supporters, this (amongst other earlier developments) continues to make an Amad return seem less and less unthinkable.
M’VILA TEASES POTENTIAL RETURN
Following being quizzed (probably somewhat jokingly) by a Sunderland fan on Instagram asking ex-Sunderland loan star Yann M’Vila if he was coming back to Sunderland, he responded with a series of eye emojis. M’Vila (now aged 32) is now a free agent after leaving Olympiacos. He made 45 appearances for the Greek giants last season and plays primarily as a defensive midfielder. I wouldn’t hold your breath too much for a return, as Yann has history of using Instagram as a tool to get his name onto the rumour mill. Instagram activity isn’t exactly as reliable a source as a Fabrizio Romano exclusive, but the possibility does remain that he could come back of course.
DAN BALLARD BID TO BE MADE SOON
Northern Ireland international Dan Ballard has been previously linked with a switch to Europa League side West Ham United and this story has continued today, with fresh reports that a bid is about to be made for the centre-back. The 23-year-old made 22 appearances for the Black Cats last season, which was massively affected by injuries he’s had but during the limited game time Ballard has had he’s shown himself to be a very good centre-back. Similar to Clarke, we should only accept a high bid for him, although his valuation may have been negatively affected by his injury record.
U21 SIGNS NEW DEAL
Finally, 19 year-old Harry Gardiner has signed a new deal with the club, following 12 appearances and six goals for the young centre-forward (who can also play left-winger) for Sunderland’s U21s last season. He also went out on loan to South Shields in March but he didn’t manage to make any appearances for them.
