Who will be able to attract a better standard of player this upcoming transfer window, Sunderland or Newcastle?
Last season ended in humiliation for Newcastle United as they were relegated from the Premier League, with rivals Sunderland escaping the drop.
Months on, it appears the fortunes of both clubs are set to reverse, with Newcastle top of the Championship, and Sunderland rock bottom of the Premier League.
Bookies SkyBet make Newcastle 1/16 on to win promotion, while Sunderland are 2/5 on to drop down a division.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez talks with Newcastle United’s Ciaran Clark
Unless either situation changes over the next month and a half, the trajectory of the two clubs could demonstrate itself in the upcoming January transfer window.
Newcastle will likely be able to attract Premier League quality players, with it looking likely they will be playing in the top flight again from next season.
Combined with the size of the club’s fanbase, and manager Rafa Benitez’s reputation, Newcastle could land up signing a better quality of player than Sunderland.
Sunderland manager David Moyes waves to the fans from the directors box
If results do not improve, the Black Cats could find themselves in the same situation as Aston Villa last January.
They struggled to sign anybody, because the writing was already on the wall for relegation, and really Sunderland at that point could land up having to plan for a season in England’s second tier.
It is up to David Moyes to turn the club’s form around and build on the recent win over Bournemouth, and use the time between now and January to demonstrate to potential signings that they will sign for a club which has a lifespan in the Premier League club beyond the last few months of the season.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe and Duncan Watmore
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