Sunderland are heading back to the Championship after winning the League One play-offs, so Alex Neil should consider re-signing these former Black Cats players to avoid relegation.
The Stadium of Light natives sealed their return to the second-tier after four seasons away in May with a 2-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley. Elliot Embleton handed the north east outfit the lead during a dominant start, before Ross Stewart hit on 79 minutes.
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Sunderland hired Neil with the remit of winning promotion in February after Lee Johnson’s sacking in January. The Black Cats believed a change of leadership was required after a 6-0 defeat by Bolton Wanderers, despite sitting two points off leaders Rotherham at the time.
Neil will now hope he can steer Sunderland clear of a possible return to League One as the Black Cats contest only their second Championship season since 2007. The club finished 24th and last in the standings during their most recent second-tier season during 2017/18.
The Black Cats have moved to improve Neil’s options with Dan Ballard joining from Arsenal for £2m, Leon Dajaku arriving from Union Berlin and Jack Clarke returning from Tottenham Hotspur, having helped toward winning promotion after initially joining on loan in January.
Neil could now strive to further strengthen his ranks ahead of opening the season at home to Coventry City on July 31 at 12:00 by re-signing a number of former Sunderland players…
Sunderland should look to re-sign former player Rose from Watford
Sunderland should look to re-sign Danny Rose as their former player tries to leave Watford this summer. The Watford Observer report the left-back has been training with Tottenham during the off-season, rather than the Hornets, in his bid to force a transfer out of the club.
Rose requested permission to return to Hotspur Way to train with Antonio Conte’s squad a year after exiting Spurs. Watford signed the 32-year-old in a free transfer after his contract expired in north London, but he could not help prevent the Hornets’ relegation last term.
The 29-cap England international also only featured in eight of Watford’s top-flight fixtures on route to finishing in 19th. His last outing additionally came in December, and could now struggle to secure a better home than a return to Sunderland nine years after a loan spell.
Neil should look to re-sign former Sunderland captain Power
Neil should now look to re-sign former Sunderland captain Max Power as the 28-year-old proved at Wigan Athletic that Johnson was wrong to release him last year. The midfielder was one of several Johnson axed in an attempt to make the Stadium of Light side his own.
Power would go on to win the League One title at the DW Stadium as a key player in Leam Richardson’s plans. He made 44 third-tier appearances for three goals and a whopping 12 assists over 3,948 minutes. He also proved to be versatile with 18 outings from right-back.
Neil would, no doubt, have benefitted from Power’s presence at Sunderland had Johnson not released the Birkenhead native. The midfielder’s creative output with Wigan was also superior to anything he offered the Black Cats with six assists over 108 League One games.
Sunderland have chance to re-sign Maja amid Bordeaux crisis
Sunderland could have a chance to re-sign Josh Maja this summer, three-and-a-half years on from his £3.5m transfer to Bordeaux. The London-born Nigeria international exited the north east of England for southwestern France following 16 goals in 49 games for the club.
But his Matmut Atlantique career has not been a success with 12 goals in 52 games. Maja has also been on loan to Fulham and Stoke City, while the Potters have snubbed an option to buy against interest from Birmingham City, per the Sunday People via Birmingham Live.
Now, Sunderland should swoop with Bordeaux in crisis, having been relegated to the third-tier by French football’s financial watchdog due to their financial issues. It has also left Les Girondins at risk of bankruptcy with Get French Football News noting €40m (£34m) debts.
Baldwin could make Stadium of Light return after strong Ross County season
Jack Baldwin could make a return to the Stadium of Light to help Sunderland as they return to the Championship. The centre-half produced a strong season after leaving Bristol Rovers for Ross County last summer, just a year after the Black Cats had released the 29-year-old.
Sunderland opted to let Baldwin leave following an injury-hit loan spell at Salford City over the 2019/20 season. He had made 42 appearances in red-and-white during his time in the north east, and has gone on to make 49 for Bristol Rovers and 30 with Ross County to date.
The London-born enforcer also regularly donned the captain’s armband at Victoria Park in Scottish Premiership games. And his experiences from competing in the top-six of the split with champions Celtic and Old Firm rivals Rangers may now help Neil in the Championship.
Neil can take Asoro back to Sunderland after four years away
Neil can look to give Joel Asoro another chance in the Championship with Sunderland after the forward left the Stadium of Light for Swansea City in a £2m transfer following the Black Cats’ relegation to League One in 2018. He had one year left on his contract with the club.
Asoro had burst out of the gates with three goals and two assists following his senior Black Cats breakthrough during the 2017/18 campaign. But he would only go on to play 18 times for the Jacks between loans in the Netherlands and Italy before joining Djurgarden in 2021.
The former Sweden U21 striker is in fine form this year, however, with five goals and two assists across 13 Allsvenskan appearances. His bright form could now help Sunderland get their Championship campaign off to a promising start midway through the Swedish term.
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