Does Sunderland’s interest in Dundee United’s Jamie Robson reflect lack of options?

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Sunderland have turned their attention to Dundee United left-back Jamie Robson with Chris Coleman aiming to improve his squad.

With Sunderland preparing for life back in the Championship after their decade-long stay in the Premier League came to an end, they appeared to be approaching the transfer market with a bit of ambition.

The Mirror reported that The Black Cats were plotting a move for Bristol City’s Joe Bryan, one of the best left-backs in the Championship who was not about to be made available on the cheap.

Flash forward to late November, however, and Sunderland still need a left-back. But it appears that players of the calibre, and price-tag, of Bryan are now well out of their reach.

Per The Express, only ten clubs in Europe are in more debt than the Wearsiders. And with owner Ellis Short desperate to sell and unwilling to invest any more money into a seemingly sinking ship, Sunderland won’t have much money to spend in the New Year.

Which perhaps explains why The Scottish Sun is reporting that they are now interested in Jamie Robson rather than a proven and highly-rated Championship ace like Bryan.

The report claims that the Dundee United left-back is on Sunderland’s radar and new Black Cats boss Chris Coleman could make a move in January. The 19-year-old Robson, who models his game on Liverpool’s former Tangerine Andrew Robertson, should come cheap with his contract due to expire at the end of this season.

And while there is no doubting Robson’s potential, it speaks volumes about Sunderland’s lack of funds than an unproven teenager who will be a free agent in a few months is now the calibre of signing they are attempting to make in the mid-season.