Andy Lonergan is expected to swap Leeds United for Championship rivals Sunderland, but will the goalkeeper really improve Chris Coleman’s starting XI?
Sunderland are crying out for a solid, reliable shot-stopper. But is Andy Lonergan really a vast improvement on the goalkeepers already at Chris Coleman’s disposal?
It seems the Stadium of Light faithful are not all that convinced.
Because the report adds that Sunderland have offered Lonergan regular first-team football on Wearside, suggesting that the unconvincing Jason Steele and Robbin Ruiter (below) could find their place under threat.
That is possibly for the best, too, with the under-fire goalkeepers both struggling for form on a consistent basis and sharing first-team duties in recent months.
The fact is, however, that the experienced Lonergan has not played regularly since spending the 2015/16 season at Fulham.
In the last 18 months, he has made just 16 Championship starts for Wolves and Leeds and has not covered himself in glory when featuring in place of Felix Wiedwald for the Yorkshire giants in recent months.
A horror fumble in the 3-1 defeat to Brentford in November sticks in the mind; as does his display in the 4-1 battering at Wolves a few weeks later.
Unfortunately, however, with funds tight at Sunderland Lonergan is about the best they can hope to get.
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