Sunderland sold Vito Mannone to Reading last summer, and that looks like a costly sale.
Sunderland must be regretting selling Vito Mannone now, given their struggles for a goalkeeper this season.
But Mannone may have been so valuable to the Black Cats this season, that his sale proved to be a major error.
Sunderland never found a settled goalkeeper throughout the campaign, and that was one of the key reasons why they faced the drop.
Jason Steele, Robbin Ruiter and Lee Camp all made calamitous mistakes during their time in net for the Black Cats.
And there is an argument to suggest that with Mannone in goal Sunderland may just have been able to avoid relegation.
The Black Cats’ quality in other area of their squad may have suffered without Mannone, but their poor goalkeepers have cost them so many points this term that having a reliable number one could have been a difference maker.
Sunderland, for all their struggles, are still only seven points adrift of safety, and Mannone could have been the difference maker in that regard.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
