Could Phil Parkinson really make an Azerbaijan international his first signing at League One Sunderland?
When Phil Parkinson took the reigns at the Stadium of Light last month, the Sunderland faithful might have expected to see links emerge with some of the 51-year-old’s former charges at Bolton Wanderers or perhaps the odd lower league journeyman.
It’s fair to say, then, that you’d have got long odds on Bahlul Mustafazada becoming the first signing of the Parkinson era on Wearside.
But according to Azerisport, the League One promotion chasers have entered talks over a deal to bring the Azerbaijan international defender to the North East of England during the January transfer window.
Now, Sunderland supporters would be forgiven for joining together and shouting ‘who?’ from the rooftops, but perhaps a better question would be ‘why?’.
The Black Cats already have Jordan Willis, Joel Lynch, Alim Ozturk and Tom Flanagan to choose from at centre-half. Jack Baldwin, meanwhile, is still a Sunderland player too, albeit on loan at Salford City. What’s more, they have looked much improved defensively under Parkinson, keeping a first clean sheet of the season during Saturday’s 1-0 win against Shrewsbury Town.
Surely Sunderland are far more in need of options in the final third with a lack of cutting edge continuing to hold them back?
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