HITC Sport takes a look at three players from the Dutch Eredivisie which Sunderland could pursue this summer.
General view – Stadium of Light Sunderland
It’s been a drab old season for Sunderland, and despite Jordan Pickford and Jermain Defoe’s best efforts, the Black Cats look doomed for relegation come the end of the season.
It’s been on the cards for a couple of years, but now it appears Sunderland have run out of lives, and the future for manager David Moyes seems uncertain.
Should the Black Cats be relegated, they may well need to look to cheaper, more affordable markets for recruitment, as the club looks to deal with the inevitable drop in wage-bill.
With that in mind, HITC Sport has taken a look at three players in the Dutch Eredivisie, who could fit the bill perfectly for The Black Cats, should they find themselves playing in the Championship next season.
1. Jens Toornstra – Feyenoord
Jens Toornstra (R) – Feyenoord
The Dutch midfielder has been in fine form for Feyenoord since joining the side from FC Utrecht in 2014. Scoring 11 goals in 35 appearances from midfield this season, Jens Toornstra could add that bit of bite and attacking threat that Sunderland have lacked this season, and could well prove to be a decent bargain if Sunderland can haggle the right price.
2. Eric Botteghin – Feyenoord
Manchester United’s Paul Pogba in action with Feyenoord’s Eric Botteghin
One of Sunderland’s biggest problems this season has been their leaky defence. In the Championship, where the Black Cats are surely heading, Sunderland are going to need to secure a big, commanding centre-half, otherwise they could well find themselves having a similar season to that of Aston Villa. Eric Botteghin could be just that man. The Brazilian has played a major part in Feyenoord’s push for the title this season, and is arguably one of the most commanding defenders in the Eredivisie.
3. Luuk de Jong – PSV Eindhoven
Luuk de Jong – PSV
Could Sunderland turn to a former Newcastle United striker? They’ll need goals down in the Championship, and Luuk de Jong has been proving he can score them since return to his native country. 67 goals in 120 games, despite trouble with injuries, puts Luuk de Jong up there as one of the more reliable strikers in Eredivisie. At the age of 26, Luuk de Jong might just fancy a second chance at cracking English football, and who better to prove those doubters wrong with than your former club’s biggest rivals?
Sunderland fans outside the stadium
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