Former Sunderland favourite Jan Kirchhoff looks set to sign for Bolton Wanderers – after the Black Cats’ Championship defeat at the Macron.
Two years ago, the ‘Special K’ arrived on Wearside to save Sunderland from relegation.
These days, Lamine Kone is cannot hack it in the Championship, Wahbi Khazri is tearing it up in Ligue 1 on loan at Rennes, while Jan Kirchhoff is without a club.
Potentially not for much longer though, because The Sun reports that Bolton Wanderers are ready to sign the former Bayern Munich and Schalke man after a trial period.
This would represent a return to professional football for the injury-stricken Kirchhoff, who left Sunderland in the summer after spending most of the 2016/17 season on the sidelines. However, if he is fit enough to earn a contract at Bolton, he would surely still do a job on Wearside.
Sunderland fans have taken to Twitter to ask why their club is not trying to bring Kirchhoff back to the Stadium of Light – as he closes in on a move to a Bolton side whose 1-0 win at the Macron on Tuesday night leaves Chris Coleman’s free-falling side bottom of the table.
Yes, Kirchhoff’s career has been blighted by knocks, tears and strains but cast your mind back to 2015/16 and he was a revelation in defensive midfield after arriving in January, aiding Sam Allardyce’s Houdini-esque escape act.
And if fit, and that is a big if, he would walk into Sunderland’s current starting XI.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
