Crewe Alexandra striker Owen Dale is flattered by reports linking him with a summer switch to League One rivals Sunderland, speaking to the club’s official website.
On Sunday, Black Cats boss Lee Johnson confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in the whole EFL while in conversation with the Northern Echo.
Charlie Wyke, the first player to break the 30-goal barrier in red-and-white stripes since ‘Super’ Kevin Phillips more than 20 years ago, is likely to have played his last game in Sunderland colours.
Wyke became a free agent on 1 July and has held talks regarding a potential switch to Nottingham Forest. However, it’s understood Celtic remains the dream destination for a 28-year-old who has never played at a level higher than the third tier of English football.
Replacing Wyke, then, won’t be easy, even if some Sunderland supporters have welcomed the idea of replacing a 6ft-something target man who thrives on set-pieces with a more mobile option.
Someone like Dale, for instance.
Will Dale replace Wyke at Sunderland?
The Sun (June 27, page 61) reports Sunderland are keen on a 22-year-old striker who has honed his talents in Crewe’s famed finishing school, scoring 12 times during a breakthrough 2020/21 campaign.
“It’s a compliment. Especially when people are saying there are some quite big teams interested,” the £1 million-rated Dale said when asked about his future.
“But I’m a Crewe player and I’ll continue to work hard and do the best I can for this team. I’m happy to be here and I am going to keep playing as hard as I can for this club.
“Until the gaffer comes to me and says we have accepted an offer, it doesn’t really matter. It’s just speculation and I am only focused on getting as fit and sharp as I can be for the start of the season.”
Dale wouldn’t be a ready-made, like-for-like replacement for Wyke, however, given he’s at his most effective on the right-hand side rather than through the middle.
Then again, the Crewe youngster would certainly help fill the void created by the departure of arguably League One’s most feared goalscorer.
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