An elbow injury to Sunderland number one Vito Mannone has left the Black Cats looking for a replacement, but who could they sign?
Sunderland’s Vito Mannone celebrates
In a recent press conference Sunderland manager David Moyes confirmed that Italian keeper Vito Mannone is set for a long-term spell on the sidelines, having damaged ligaments in his elbow.
The untimely injury, coming so soon after the start of the season, has left Sunderland with youngster Jordan Pickford as the only senior goalkeeper in their squad. As a result, Moyes has admitted that the club will now need to search for another goalkeeper to bring in before the close of the transfer window in order to replace Mannone.
But who could the Black Cats pick up in their search for a new shot stopper? Here are three potential targets.
1. Joe Hart
This deal couldn’t happen, could it? Well, Moyes didn’t rule out the possibility of making an offer for the unwanted City goalkeeper when asked.
As has been well-documented, Hart has been dropped from new manager Pep Guardiola’s plans, as City have brought in Claudio Bravo from Barcelona to provide a better distributor between the sticks. Hart has been linked with other clubs, at home and abroad, but at least in Sunderland he would have an offer of practically guaranteed first-team football.
It would be a sensational coup for the Wearsiders were they to pull it off, but with City willing to pay a percentage of Hart’s wages whilst he goes out on loan, perhaps we might just see the English keeper spending a year at the Stadium of Light.
2. Karl Darlow
This deal would also be an eye-catching one if it materialised, due to the rivalry between the two clubs. But Welsh keeper could be tempted to make the short yet highly-controversial move from Newcastle to Sunderland, even if perhaps only on a loan deal.
Newcastle seem almost overloaded with quality goalkeepers for the Championship this year, a problem that their bitter rivals would love to have. In new signing Matz Sels, Rob Elliot and young starlet Freddie Woodman the Geordie club would still have enough cover in the goalkeeper position should they want to send Darlow on loan for a year to accumulate some more Premier League experience.
Darlow produced some encouraging performances when called upon at St. James’ Park towards the end of last season, and has gone some way to proving that he can compete in the top flight. Worrying as it may be for Sunderland to lose Mannone, they have a potential replacement for him right on their doorstep in Darlow.
3. David Marshall
Marshall is a keeper that has been linked with numerous Premier League sides ever since he was relegated from the Premier League with Cardiff City in 2014, and this summer has been no different, with a move to Hull potentially on the cards, according to BBC Sport.
He’s yet to be linked with a move to the Black Cats, but the Scottish keeper would fit Sunderland perfectly. At 31, Marshall has years of playing left in him but may now be looking for a chance to test himself at the highest level one last time before the end of his career, an opportunity that he is seemingly unlikely to receive playing with Cardiff.
Marshall was the Bluebirds’ best player in their most recent season in the Premier League, pulling out an array of fantastic stops on numerous occasions. This would be an affordable deal for a quality player that Sunderland should certainly consider, before the player gets picked up by another Premier League club.
Sunderland are on the lookout for a new goalkeeper, and whilst Jordan Pickford deserves a chance in the Premier League after plenty of loan spells, another player is needed for cover in that position. Who they buy is a decision they must get right, as by the admission of their own manager, the club are bracing themselves for a relegation battle.
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