Joe Ledley would have been a great addition for Sunderland on a free but Derby County got there first.
Sunderland spent less money in the summer transfer window than any other side in the Championship while simultaneously losing a number of their most experienced campaigners. It perhaps shouldn’t be any surprise, then, that Simon Grayson’s side are struggling near the bottom of the table rather than plotting an immediate return to the Premier League.
The Wearsiders have been forced to rely on free agents and loans in the last few years but, with summer signings James Vaughan, Tyias Browning and Brendan Galloway struggling to prove that they are up to the standard required, a lack of funds means the Black Cats’ luck is quickly running out.
After all, it’s not often genuinely high qualities free transfers come around – certainly not ones that could be within Sunderland’s grasp. Supporters may be frustrated, therefore, that the Wearsiders did not challenge Derby County for the potentially inspired addition of Joe Ledley.
Not bad for a freebie
According to the BBC, the experienced Welsh international joined The Rams on a deal until January at the end of September. And Ledley, who featured in the semi-finals of the European Championships just a year ago, did not cost the club a penny having being released by Crystal Palace in June.
He couldn’t have made a better start either, scoring on his debut against Brentford last month.
Yet, the former Celtic midfielder is a player that would have immediately improved Sunderland’s starting XI and provided some much needed steel and leadership at the centre of the park.
Sunderland supporters clamoured on social media for the club to bring Ledley to the Stadium of Light last month but their appeals were ignored by a side whose recruitment has left a lot to be desired in recent years.
How can Grayson expect to keep a sinking ship afloat when talented, available players like Ledley pass the club by?
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