JUST IN: 3 players who must look to leave Sunderland when the January transfer window opens
JUST IN: 3 players who must look to leave Sunderland when the January transfer window opens
Sunderland are facing an important January transfer window as they look to keep their Championship promotion hopes alive.
Sunderland started this season in impressive fashion but their form of late has raised some concerns.
The Black Cats are six games without a win, though the Friday night loss to promotion rivals Sheffield United was the first defeat in that run. They had drawn the five straight games prior, seeing them lose some ground at the top of the Championship table.
Nevertheless, the Black Cats remain in a strong position in the second-tier. They’re 4th in the league, three points away from the top two and five behind the Blades at the summit.
January business will be key as Sunderland look to build on this strong start to the Regis Le Bris era, but while signings will be prioritised, there are a number of fringe players who must look to depart, both for the good of their own careers and to pace the way for fresh additions.
Here, we put forward three men who should be eyeing exits…
Jewison Bennette
Bennette quickly made a splash on Wearside after signing from Costa Rican side Herediano in the summer of 2022 but he’s struggled for game time and hasn’t been able to kick on as hoped with Sunderland. He spent the second half of lsat season on loan with Aris Saloniki and was tipped to head out temporary in the summer but no move materialised.
Now, ahead of January, Bennette needs a chance to get back to his best, be it with a permanent exit or a new loan.
He hasn’t made a single Championship matchday squad and the vast majority of his game time has been with the U21s.
Nazariy Rusyn
Ukranian forward Rusyn is one of the many Sunderland striker signings in recent years that just haven’t panned out as hoped.
He’s found more game time than some of his fellow Black Cats fringe men but his six Championship outings still only amount to 64 minuets of league football under Le Bris and he hasn’t been played since October 1st.
The Championship promotion hopefuls would be better off cutting their losses and selling Rusyn in January, perhaps offering him the chance to move back to Ukraine and find success there as he did before his Wearside switch.
Adil Aouchiche
Last but not least is Adil Aouchiche, who boasts obvious talent and potential but has found chances on Wearside increasingly hard to come by. Players have been signed in his position while youngsters have also come through and seemingly taken his place in the pecking order.
The Frenchman has occasionally found a place in the matchday squad but he has still played just 18 minutes of Championship football all season.
If he’s to come good on the potential he displayed in France, Aouchiche is better off moving way from Sunderland and starting again in January.
Leave a Reply