Championship relegation favourites Sunderland reportedly want to lure Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Ben Alnwick back to the Stadium of Light.
A good goalkeeper can make all the difference in a relegation battle, as fans of both Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers will tell you.
Ben Alnwick has been in superb form for Bolton in recent weeks and is a major reason why Phil Parkinson’s side are now five points clear of the Championship drop zone. Sunderland, meanwhile, could only dream of a shot-stopper so reliable.
Robbin Ruiter, Jason Steele and now Lee Camp have all struggled massively for the Black Cats this season and, as a result, Chris Coleman’s side are joint bottom and seem destined for League One. They have conceded 14 more goals than Bolton this season.
So, understandably, Sunderland have already made signing a new goalkeeper a top priority this summer. And the Sun (1 April, page 57) claims that none other than Alnwick is in their sights.
Alnwick would be an excellent signing, and not just because he knows the club well, starting his career at Sunderland before leaving for Tottenham Hotspur in 2007.
The 31-year-old has been one of the most impressive shot-stoppers in the second tier since the turn of the year and would represent an immediate improvement on any of the goalkeepers currently on Sunderland’s books.
If they had Alnwick between the sticks this season, it might be the Black Cats and not Bolton with a decent cushion between themselves and the relegation zone.
And although Alnwick may return to the Stadium of Light too late to save their Championship status, it could be a case of better late than never.
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