Sunderland’s slide down the Sky Bet Championship table will have set alarm bells ringing at the Stadium of Light, with Simon Grayson’s side facing the prospect of another relegation fight.

The Black Cats are sat 23rd in the Championship table, with just one victory from their opening 11 fixtures of the 2017/18 campaign.

Following relegation and a sea of change over the summer, promotion was a big ask, but many expected Sunderland to survive despite a budgeted summer.

However, Sunderland’s squad is looking deflated, with Aiden McGeady perhaps the only player to come out of the opening 11 fixtures with any credit.

Grayson’s budgeted summer has left his squad short of where they need to be, and the likelihood is that Sunderland will have to be active during the January transfer window.

Here is a look at TWO players we believe Sunderland should look to bring to the Stadium of Light this January…

Kyle Bartley 

The Swansea City defender is currently out of action with an injury that will rule him out until Christmas, but the Premier League outfit may want the towering defender to spend time out on-loan, as he looks to regain his fitness at the start of 2018.

Bartley spent last season with Leeds United in the Championship, where he was impressive, making 50 appearances for the Whites, as they challenged for a place in the play-offs.

The towering central defender would be a shrewd addition to any Championship defence, and Sunderland are short of a natural leader, a void that Bartley would fill.

Jordan Hugill 

Hugill is a player Grayson is familiar with from his time with Preston North End, and the striker is likely to be in-demand once again in the January transfer window.

The £2.7m-rated striker is likely to cost Sunderland a lot more if they look to sign him in January, and it remains to be seen whether Grayson is handed that kind of money at the beginning of 2018.

However, if Sunderland are serious about climbing the Championship table, and first of all surviving, that’s the type of money that needs to be spent.