Ryan Christie
It’s no secret that Jack Ross is interested in a loan move for the talented Scottish midfielder, although how much of a possibility of that happening is down to what players can be moved on over the next day or so.
The left-footed midfielder had an excellent season couple of seasons up at Aberdeen but it seems that, despite that form at Pittodrie, the 23-year-old still hasn’t broken into Brendan Rodgers’ plans at Celtic Park, playing only nine minutes for the Bhoys this term.
Former Sunderland managerial target Derek McInnes has already ruled out a third spell at Aberdeen for the Scotland international, and despite interest from Barnsley, you’d have to hope former Inverness player would fancy a season under the tutelage of the Scottish manager of the year if there’s room in our wage budget.
Michael Doughty
Sunderland’s recruitment seems to have mainly centred around players of a good age, with room to improve, and players that can fit into Jack Ross’ vision for how he wants us to play not only now, but in the future.
Doughty - who plays for Swindon Town - certainly seems to fit the bill, with journalist Pete O’Rourke crediting Sunderland, Hull City and Brentford with an interest this week.
He’s already scored five goals this term and assisted a further two, so he is in good form and would surely relish the step up from League Two. He’s another left footed midfielder, and it’s no secret that Ross is on the lookout for one of those.
It could prove to be an unlikely deal, however, for various reasons. The 25-year-old only joined the Robins little over three months ago, and whilst he could only currently join a club on loan deal with the permanent transfer window closed, you’d have to expect his club would be reluctant to the let him leave without an immediate transfer fee.
Viktor Gyökeres
The highly-rated Swedish youngster joined Brighton and Hove Albion for a fee of £900k during this year’s January transfer window, but has so far failed to appear in the Premier League for Chris Hughton’s side.
Rumours of interest from ourselves could be premature, but if we’re looking to bolster our forward line then the 20-year-old certainly seems to have some potential. He managed to hit twenty goals in fifty games back in his native country whilst still a teen, where he also shared the European U19 Championship’s golden boot award in 2017.
He’d surely be raw, but there’s no denying it would be nice to have an extra body up top with only Josh Maja and Charlie Wyke available as out-and-out centre forwards.
Liam Millar
The Canadian’s move to Wearside seemed to be all signed and sealed only a few weeks ago, but for whatever reason it just hasn’t materialised. Quite what the stumbling block is, no one really knows - but it wouldn’t be a huge shock if he rocked up at the Stadium of Light on deadline day.
Signed from Fulham as a 16-year-old, Millar’s move to Merseyside has so far not really worked out having not appeared for the Anfield club’s first team at all.
Despite his limited playing time, though, reports from Liverpool indicate his time in their U18’s, under the management of current Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, helped his game develop significantly - any move away from the club would simply be down to the amount of playing time available for the young forward.
Zach Clough
As a player with obvious potential, quite why the striker’s career hasn’t had the trajectory expected yet is anyone’s guess. However, it would fair to say it certainly won’t improve under current Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka - a man known to trust experience over youth.
Playing mainly as a false nine at Bolton Wanderers, he hit home twenty two goals in fifty-eights games firstly under Neil Lennon and latterly Phil Parkinson, with that form earning him a move reportedly worth £3m to the City Ground.
It hasn’t worked out for the 23-year-old, though, who only managed four goals last term - ending the season back at Bolton on loan.
A move to a reinvigorated Sunderland could be the ideal one for the striker, but if he is available on a loan deal, there’s bound to be some competition for his signature.