The last thing Sunderland need is a player of proven quality joining a relegation rival – particularly one who last turned out in their own colours.
Former Sunderland goalkeeper Ben Alnwick was instrumental in Bolton Wanderers’ 1-0 defeat of Chris Coleman’s men on Tuesday.
And it looks as though more one-time Black Cats could contribute to Sunderland’s demise in a desperate relegation battle at the bottom of the Championship.
Darren Bent was a Premier League star on Wearside before sealing a big-money move to Aston Villa, but he is now plying his trade for Burton Albion, who sent Sunderland to the foot of the table with their win over Barnsley on Tuesday night.
Although Bent has still not found his feet at Burton, Sunderland fans know only too well the quality he possesses that could be crucial in the run-in.
The same can be said of Jan Kirchhoff, who inspired Sam Allardyce’s Black Cats as they scraped to top-flight safety in the 2015/16 season.
Injuries have kept the former Bayern Munich midfielder out of the game since the end of last season, but he is now on trial at Bolton – per The Sun.
If the Trotters can get Kirchhoff fit and firing, he is far too good to be embroiled in a second-tier relegation scrap and would give Bolton a huge boost in their own survival bid, perhaps pulling them clear and pushing Coleman’s side further into the mire.
Sunderland can only look on enviously as Kirchhoff is surely a better option than both Lee Cattermole and Ethan Robson.
It could well be that the Black Cats’ former players send them down in yet another devastating twist for their frustrated supporters.
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