Sunderland are reportedly keen on Stoke City striker Peter Crouch.
Stoke City’s Peter Crouch
According to The Sun, Sunderland are lining up a January move to sign Stoke City striker Peter Crouch, in a bid to reunite him with Jermain Defoe.
The Black Cats made it two wins in two games on Saturday, as having beaten Bournemouth 2-1 before the international break, David Moyes’ men beat Hull City 3-0 this weekend to boost their chances of getting out of the bottom three.
Jermain Defoe’s opener was followed by two goals from Victor Anichebe, and whilst two Sunderland attackers grabbed goals in Saturday’s win, it seems that Moyes is looking to bring in a new striker in January.
The Sun report that Moyes is plotting a move for Stoke City’s Peter Crouch, given that the veteran striker has barely featured for the Potters this season.
Crouch, 35, has started just one Premier League game this season, playing just 151 minutes of top flight action so far as Mark Hughes has gone with the likes of Wilfried Bony and Jonathan Walters instead.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring their first goal against Hull City
In the latter stages of the veteran’s career, he will hope to play more first-team football – and it seems that Sunderland are willing to offer him that during the January transfer window.
It’s claimed that Crouch is now Sunderland’s prime striking target for January ahead of Leicester City’s Leonardo Ulloa, and whilst the low cost to sign him may be a factor, his Premier League record and history with star man Defoe could be vital.
Stoke City’s Peter Crouch celebrates
Crouch formed the classic ‘little and large’ strike partnership with diminutive Defoe at both Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur, with 6ft 7in Crouch offering Moyes a direct option in attack.
That link-up with Defoe could be productive for Sunderland, and with Stoke unlikely to put up much of a fight to keep the former England international, Crouch may well be a smart target for Sunderland.
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