Chris Coleman is shopping in League One, but Sunderland may have to aim lower still.
Sunderland are interested in Shrewsbury Town pair Jon Nolan and Toto Nsiala, according to the Shropshire Star.
While two talented players, neither would represent particularly exciting signings for Black Cats fans as they look to realign their expectations.
The club appear to be preparing for relegation from the Championship by bringing in two top League One stars.
But, rather depressingly, it may well be that Sunderland are still aiming too high. They are a far bigger club than Shrewsbury, but it is not a given that these players would want to make the move to Wearside right now.
Just one place separates Sunderland and Shrewsbury, with the two sides looking set to trade places this summer. It would be a surprise to see Nolan and Nsiala passing up the opportunity to play in the Championship.
This must be hard to take for Sunderland fans, who have seen Jermain Defoe arrive in recent years, the club’s transfer record broken and regular Premier League football.
Those days are over, though, at least in the immediate future, and the fans and the club must adjust. Even shopping in League One, their expectations appear unrealistic.
Nolan, in particular, will cost “big money”, according to the report, and Sunderland do not have that either.
It will be interesting to see who Sunderland can attract this summer, but Nolan and Nsiala are surely unlikely to be among the new signings.
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