Sunderland are now monitoring how Everton operate in the transfer window in the hopes of re-signing Ellis Simms. The Toffees recalled the striker from the Black Cats on January 1.
That is according to The Northern Echo, which reports that Tony Mowbray wants to re-sign Simms for the rest of the season. The 22-year-old enjoyed a prolific spell at the Stadium of Light earlier this term. But Frank Lampard ended his year-long stay to offer Everton depth.
Simms scored seven and assisted two goals over his 17 appearances in the Championship with Sunderland. He also started in 14 of a potential 18 games between missing seven with a toe injury. Yet Lampard has since only afforded the forward 15 minutes with the Toffees.
Lampard has introduced Simms as a late substitute in Everton’s Premier League defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton. The Toffees boss also left the Goodison outfit’s academy graduate on his bench in their 3-1 loss away to Manchester United in the FA Cup.
Sunderland now hope that Everton will consider letting Simms return to the North East on loan if they secure the transfer of another striker. Mowbray wants to add two forwards in the January window and hopes to sign a Premier League talent who plays in Simms’ mould.
Sunderland will not wait forever for Everton to send Simms in a new loan transfer
Everton recalled Simms early from his year-long loan transfer to Sunderland after the club tore up Salomon Rondon’s contract. The Venezuelan’s departure left Neal Maupay as their only cover for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Yet Lampard has seldom shown faith in Simms since.
Now, Simms faces the prospect of spending the rest of this season on the bench, especially if Lampard signs a forward. So, Sunderland are keeping tabs on his situation as the Everton gem would only be able to re-sign for the Black Cats this January due to the two-team rule.
Mowbray would welcome Simms back to the Stadium of Light with his Black Cats side now 10th in the Championship. They are just three points shy of the play-off positions but have drawn 1-1 at Blackpool and lost 3-1 at home to Swansea City since Simms left for Everton.
“It’s their decision, not ours,” Mowbray stated last week, via quotes by The Northern Echo. “But what we do know is if the phone rings and they let him back out, he can come here and by then we might have signed a young striker. Let’s wait and see.
“If he comes, there’s no integration into the club. He knows the players, the coach, the club. If that option is there for us it’s something I’m pretty sure we’d look at. But we can’t stand still and hope that happens.”
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