Sunderland need to add quality in the January transfer window, and this West Ham United star could prove perfect.
Sunderland manager Chris Coleman will have given Wearside supporters a huge rush of optimism on Saturday afternoon as he masterminded a first Championship victory in more than three months.
The Black Cats beat fellow strugglers Burton Albion away from home at the Pirelli Stadium, thanks to late goals from James Vaughan and George Honeyman to earn the club’s second league win of the season.
It sees Coleman’s side move into 22nd place, winning just his second game in charge after narrowly missing out on a draw against Aston Villa on Tuesday.
The 2-0 scoreline was Sunderland’s first Championship clean sheet of the season, and it is clear to all at the club that defensive reinforcements are desperately required in the January transfer window.
Conceding 35 goals in 19 Championship games is the kind of form that will see the northerners suffer back-to-back relegations, and Coleman must land an experienced defender that he can trust to organise the defence at the Stadium of Light.
That should turn his attention to out-of-contract West Ham leader James Collins, who could be available for a bargain price in January as his deal expires in June.
West Ham are likely to prefer selling him for a fee rather than losing him for nothing, and the 34-year-old would surely be allowed to leave the club for a nominal figure should Sunderland move for him.
Coleman knows the former Cardiff City defender very well from his time as Wales manager, making 11 of his 51 Wales caps under former Fulham and Real Sociedad manager Coleman.
Adding his experience and commanding maturity at the back, Collins passion and heart-on-the-sleeve style would inspire the rest of his squad in their fight against relegation. He would organise a leaky back line, and surely help stem the flow.
For a knockdown price, Collins would be the perfect January addition at Sunderland.
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