Fleetwood Town may have to perform minor miracles to hang onto Bell with both Sunderland and West Ham keen.
It appears that, at long last, there’s some degree of cohesion to Sunderland’s transfer dealings. Recent reports have linked them to Hibernian goal machine Jason Cummings, Southampton’s on-loan Blackburn Rovers targetman Sam Gallagher and Ipswich Town’s ball-playing centre-half Adam Webster.
Intriguingly, all ply their trade locally and are under the age of 24. Therefore, it would be no surprise if they were to join the lengthy queue for Fleetwood Town’s rising star Amari’i Bell.
Like the aforementioned quartet, the left-back is both young and homegrown. Aged just 22 and an academy graduate from Birmingham City, Bell appears to fit Sunderland’s long-term transfer strategy.
Furthermore, with Bryan Oviedo struggling to convince since signing from Everton, Bell (below), who has scored three and set up another five for the League One high-flyers this season, could provide a useful addition going forward and replicate the attacking thrust of the recently departed Patrick Van Aanholt.
However, The Black Cats would have to move fast. HITC sources told us that, as well as Championship sides Norwich City and Brighton, Premier League duo West Ham and Swansea City are also aware of Bell’s stand-out performances in the third tier.
West Ham certainly appear a realistic destination with the disappointing Arthur Masuaku unlikely to still be at the London Stadium beyond the summer, the Daily Mail reports.
However, if Sunderland are to rebuild themselves with young, home-grown talents, Bell is exactly the kind of player they should make a priority.
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