Sunderland have signed Ashley Fletcher and Ovie Ejaria on loan, despite Championship rivals Leeds United’s links with the attacking pair.
Sunderland enjoyed a decent end to what had looked like being a disastrous transfer window.
The Black Cats may not have been able to bring in any permanent signings due to their levels of debt, but they did manage to secure two highly-rated youngsters on loan.
The hugely talented Liverpool midfielder Ovie Ejaria joined for the rest of the season as a direct replacement for Watford-bound Didier Ndong. Ashley Fletcher, meanwhile, will be tasked with replacing top scorer Lewis Grabban after arriving from local rivals Middlesbrough.
But Leeds United fans may be entitled to ask why Ejaria and Fletcher are rocking up at the Stadium of Light rather than Elland Road. After all, it is just a year since Leeds tried to bring both young attackers to West Yorkshire and they still would have come in handy today.
According to the Sun , Leeds were confident they would sign Fletcher from West Ham, only for manager Slaven Bilic to change his mind and block the youngster’s exit. And the Sun (21 January, page 68) stated just a few weeks ago that the Whites were still hopeful of bringing in the former Manchester United youngster.
Fletcher could have been a fine addition for a Leeds side who went into the transfer window needing a striker and signed precisely none. Ejariah, meanwhile, could have offered that creativity and composure in central midfield that Thomas Christiansen’s side appear to lack when the influential Samu Saiz is not available or on top form.
Leeds’ loss, however, could be very much Sunderland’s gain.
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