Sunderland: £29k-p/w Black Cats target could be Clarke’s dream partner

Kristjaan Speakman could swoop to sign the talented ace at the start of next year.

Sunderland have made an excellent start to the 2023/24 campaign and remain in contention to secure a play-off place for the second season in succession.

The Black Cats are fourth after 11 matches, in spite of their 4-0 loss to Middlesbrough last time out, and nine points off Ipswich Town, who are second as it stands.

Tony Mowbray’s side lost to Luton Town in the play-off semi-finals last season and will now be hoping to go one better to secure promotion to the Premier League next year.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman dipped into the market to bolster the manager’s squad throughout the summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster the club’s chances of doing so.

Jenson Seelt, Jobe Bellingham, Nectarios Triantis, Eliezer Mayenda, Luis Semedo, Bradley Dack, Timothee Pembele, Adil Aouchiche, Mason Burstow, Nazariy Rusyn, and Nathan Bishop were all brought in either on permanent or loan deals.

Their fourth-placed position, as it stands, suggests that the club’s business has had the desired effect so far but they are reportedly looking at another deal ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the latest on Amad Diallo to Sunderland?

TEAMtalk recently revealed that the Black Cats are plotting a swoop to bring the Manchester United youngster, who would come in as a dream partner for Jack Clarke, back to the Stadium of Light at the start of next year.

The report claimed that a knee injury sustained during pre-season ruled out a summer exit from Old Trafford for the former Atalanta prodigy.

However, the talented gem is now ready to secure a move away from the Premier League side and Sunderland are hoping to land a loan deal for his services for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

It is also stated that the Red Devils are prepared to sanction a temporary transfer for the ex-Rangers loanee, which suggests that he is not in Erik ten Hag’s immediate first-team plans at this moment in time.

TEAMtalk’s report also added that there is confidence that Speakman and Mowbray will be able to bring him back for a second spell on Wearside, after his impressive performances for the club last term.

However, it remains to be seen how many other teams would be interested in signing Diallo and what level of football he could play instead of dropping back down to the Championship, which means that it is far from guaranteed that the young ace will be back in the red and white.

How many goals did Diallo score for Sunderland?

The 21-year-old whiz racked up 14 goals in all competitions for the Black Cats during his loan spell in the 2022/23 campaign under Mowbray’s management.

It was the most goals he has ever scored in a single season in his first-team career to date as Sunderland were able to get the best out of the United loanee.

He arrived at the Stadium of Light off the back of an underwhelming spell with Rangers in Scotland. Diallo produced three goals and zero assists in 13 appearances for the Light Blues.