Aston Villa won’t let Ross McCormack join Sunderland until they sign West Ham’s Robert Snodgrass.
Ross McCormack of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his side’s first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match against Huddersfield Town.
Sunderland are currently playing the waiting game as Aston Villa want to sign West Ham United’s Robert Snodgrass on loan before they allow Ross McCormack to leave, reports Sky Sports.
According to the Sunderland Echo the deal for McCormack is also likely to be a temporary one as manager Simon Grayson looks to bolster his squad ahead of the transfer window closing.
Simon Grayson, manager of Sunderland.
The Black Cats were also interested in signing Snodgrass, however, but are essentially having to sacrifice that deal in order for the Villans to allow them to sign their forward.
Yet are the North East club prioritising the wrong player?
Robert Snodgrass of West Ham United heads towards goal during the Premier League match against Hull City.
Grayson has primarily used a 4-4-2 formation in the Championship so far this season, pairing new signings Lewis Grabban and James Vaughan in attack.
McCormack would be looking to push for one of these roles if the system stays the same, whereas Snodgrass would be wanting to take up a position out wide.
With Wahbi Khazri being quoted by the Chronicle admitting he wants to leave the Stadium of Light and Jeremain Lens having already departed this summer, a new winger is arguably more of a priority for Grayson.
Not only that but McCormack has badly struggled for form in the second tier over the past 12 months, whereas although Snodgrass also dipped after a January switch to the Hammers, before that he was arguably Hull City’s best player in the Premier League.
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