Sunderland should have considered Celtic’s Scott Allan instead of Ryan Christie

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Celtic playmaker Christie was on Sunderland’s shortlist this summer.

Celtic playmaker Ryan Christie was linked with a move to Jack Ross’ Sunderland this summer as The Black Cats entered the third tier of English football with the aim of instant promotion – but Ross failed to get his man.

The Shields Gazette claim 23-year-old Christie was being eyed by Sunderland in the summer, as recent as the transfer deadline day on August 31.

There is no doubt that Christie would have been an excellent signing at the Stadium of Light, after his loan spell with Aberdeen last season saw him score eight goals and create another 15 from midfield.

However, Christie has been included in Celtic’s squad for the Europa League and has also made five appearances for the Scottish champions since returning to Brendan Rodgers’ side.

The same cannot be said for Scott Allan who impressed just as much as Christie with Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership last season. Now, the 26-year-old has been ostracised from Rodgers’ squad.

He has not been included in Celtic’s Europa League squad and is yet to make an appearance for Celtic since returning from Easter Road, where he shone alongside new Sunderland signing Dylan McGeouch.

Surely then, Sunderland should have considered signing Allan instead of Christie this summer, with Celtic much more likely to allow the 10-time Scotland Under-21 international leave to join Sunderland on loan or even permanently.

Allan has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Celtic and is likely to be available in the January transfer window for clubs interested in his signature.

Sunderland would have landed a player capable of producing just as much quality as Christie in between the midfield and attack at the Stadium of Light, and should look to do so in the upcoming January transfer window.