Sunderland loanee Jonny Williams is a January target for Birmingham City – meaning Crystal Palace may cut short his stay on Wearside.
Sunderland needed a player like Jonny Williams in the summer transfer window. Diminutive, skilful and subtle, the Welsh international has already made a positive impression at the Stadium of Light after arriving on loan from Crystal Palace.
However, any hope they may have had of landing Williams on a permanent basis at the end of his temporary stay may already be under threat. According to The Sun (1st October, page 61), Birmingham City are hopeful of landing the playmaker for £2 million as early as January – which means The Black Cats could lose Williams mid-way through his loan spell.
The problem, however, is that Sunderland may be powerless to prevent this. Simon Grayson’s cash-strapped side hardly have wads of disposal funds lying around right now and no side in the entire Championship spent less than their £1.2 million in the summer.
Therefore, Williams may cost more himself than Sunderland’s ten summer signings put together. Birmingham, however, have the benefit of financial power to turn around a dreadful start to the season, having already flexed their muscles by paying big for the likes of Jota over the last few months.
There’s a concern, then, that Sunderland may already be priced out of landing Williams on a permanent basis. Though the 23-year-old has enjoyed a bright start to life in Sunderland colours, you get the feeling that there is far more to come.
Though not if fellow strugglers Birmingham snatch him away in just a few months’ time.
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