Sunderland were linked with Peterborough United’s League One talisman Jack Marriott back in December before they were relegated from the Championship.
Sunderland fans might have wondered how on earth they were going to fight their way out of League One on the limited budget that stopped them spending a single penny in the January transfer window.
Fortunately, new owner Stuart Donald appears to have given the club some much needed financial freedom – and, in his own words, a budget many Championship clubs could only dream off.
“Looking at the numbers we have put through, the budget for Sunderland is going to be pretty hefty for League One,” Donald said in quotes reported by the Daily Record (16.41pm).
“It’s going to be a lot more than any of the teams that got promoted last season had got. It’s going to be a good budget for Sunderland and I’m sure it’s a budget one or two Championship clubs would like.”
So maybe the likes of Jack Marriott, one-time transfer targets who appeared to be out of Sunderland’s price-range, could be available to them once again.
The Mail stated in December that Sunderland were keeping an eye on the prolific Peterborough United striker. He ended the season with 33 goals in all competitions and, according to The Mail, was valued at around £5 million with the likes of Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday linked.
But the influx of fresh cash provided by Donald means targets like Marriott with bigger price-tags might not necessarily be simple pipe dreams for much longer.
Sunderland are crying out for a striker who can fire them back to the Championship – so who better than the Football League’s most lethal marksman?
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