Sunderland’s problem position this season has been in goal.
The signing of Lee Camp on January’s deadline day is an important deal for Sunderland as they look to remain in the Championship come May, but he is hardly the long-term answer.
A goalkeeper was the order of the day at the Stadium of Light as last week’s deadline drew closer, and Chris Coleman managed to replace Robbin Ruiter and Jason Steele with Derby’s experienced Camp.
However, the 33-year-old is a stop-gap solution to Sunderland’s problem position between the sticks, and a more permanent successor must be signed in the summer.
Lee Camp.
Craig Gordon moved to Sunderland from Hearts for a record deal back in 2007, and the Black Cats should look to Tynecastle once again for a goalkeeper by landing their highly-rated stopper Jon McLaughlin.
Edinburgh News claim the 30-year-old is attracting huge interest from down south as he continues to shine for Hearts, second only to Craig Gordon in the Scottish Premiership clean sheet race with 11 in 22 league games.
McLaughlin, who joined Hearts from Burton in the summer, is available on a free transfer in the summer and could even be snapped up by Sunderland now as part of a pre-contract agreement that would see him move in the summer.
Craig Gordon, now with Celtic.
Conceding just 17 goals this season, McLaughlin has a decent record in England’s second tier after his season with Burton last season – keeping 10 clean sheets in 43 games in a side that narrowly avoided the drop.
Adding him to Sunderland’s side will give them the experience, defensive nous and more importantly, the ability to keep a clean sheet in order to drive up the table next term.
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