Sunderland wanted to re-sign Grant Leadbitter from Middlesbrough in the summer – but did not push the boat out with no offers arriving for Didier Ndong.
After the pain of relegation from the Premier League, it looks as if things are going to get worse before they get better for Sunderland.
With 12 games played, Sunderland are second from bottom in the Championship, having accumulated just eight points so far. The prospect of successive relegations is becoming a genuine concern.
And an ongoing debt crisis means the January transfer window could yet bring more outgoings than incomings. According to the Northern Echo, Sunderland could look to sell three of their senior players, Didier Ndong, Lamine Kone and Jack Rodwell, in January as owner Ellis Short looks to ease the club’s debt in order to make The Black Cats look more tempting to potential buyers.
Who, if anyone, would arrive in their place remains to be seen.
One out, one in?
With Kone out of form and Rodwell out of favour, however, it appears only Ndong would really be missed at Sunderland. The 23-year-old, who became The Wearsiders’ record signing when he arrived from Lorient in 2016 for £13.6 million, has started all but one of Sunderland’s Championship games this season and has assists in each of his last two appearances.
According to The Chronicle, however, Sunderland may already have a ready-made replacement for Ndong in mind. The report states that The Black Cats wanted to re-sign former academy graduate Grant Leadbitter in the summer but were unlikely to push the boat out unless a big bid came in for Ndong.
If Ndong is sold in January, however, that would free up funds for Sunderland to bring Leadbitter back to the Stadium of Light. With his contract expiring in the summer and having made just four league starts in 2017/18, the 31-year-old does not appear to have much of a future at current club Middlesbrough.
Ndong’s exit could well open the door for Leadbitter to swap Riverside for Wearside in the New Year.
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