Phil Parkinson has outlined Sunderland’s standing with regards to transfers and named Kyle Lafferty as one of the names being chased in this transfer window.
Sunderland are currently well below their expectations for where they want to be, come the end of the season and the arrival of Phil Parkinson in October hasn’t done much to remedy this.
The Black Cats are currently on a run of five games without defeat, however, their recent 3-1 win over Lincoln City was just Parkinson’s fourth in the league since taking over at the Stadium of Light.
Having taken the reins on Wearside in October, January presents Parkinson with his first chance at strengthening his squad and moulding it towards what he wants going forward.
Sunderland are in a position where they absolutely need to recruit well if they are serious about pushing for promotion back to the Championship, and they are setting about that with intent at the moment.
It was revealed earlier in the week that free agent striker Kyle Lafferty was in talks with the club over a potential move to the Stadium of Light, having met with representatives on Tuesday and shown around the club’s facilities.
Speaking to the club’s official site ahead of the visit of Wycombe, Parkinson commented on the club’s transfer plans, stating: “We are closing in on a number of targets. We are working towards those, but we are competing with other clubs for those players.
“Kyle Lafferty is one of a number of players we have spoken about and he is on our list.”
Can you name these Sunderland players' shirt numbers?
The Verdict
Sunderland are clearly looking to act in this transfer window and with good reason, given their league position. At ninth, it isn’t the end of the world for the Black Cats, but they are nowhere near where they should be at the moment.
Kyle Lafferty appears to be the only name that the club are openly pursuing, which would be a solid move and very cost-effective too. A very experienced striker with height and technical ability could be what Parkinson needs in his setup.