Recent transfer rumours suggest Sunderland and Speakman aren’t learning crucial lesson

According to recent rumours, Sunderland and Kristjaan Speakman might be making yet another crucial mistake in the transfer market.

Nothing less than an ideal summer and transfer window is required for Sunderland.
Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and athletic director Speakman are the focus of attention after a season that was full of promise but ended in great disappointment.

After losing 2-0 to Sheffield Wednesday, a team that was at the bottom of the table for the majority of the season but ultimately finished just three points behind Sunderland, the Black Cats concluded the season in 16th place.

In addition to selecting a manager who will be well-liked by the team’s supporters and produce results, Speakman must ensure that the Black Cats’ next manager has a team that can contend for the top six.

Rumours about potential targets in Sunderland are also circulating.

Kristjaan Speakman committing yet another crucial mistake for Sunderland

Even though Sunderland has struggled with injuries since rejoining the Championship, Speakman and the team still have an eye for players who are prone to injuries.
The Black Cats are reportedly interested in Ian Poveda of Leeds United and Chris Willock of QPR. Both players have summer expiration dates and are prone to injuries.

Although Willock featured 39 times in the Championship campaign just concluded, he only managed 28 in the season before that.

Willock, a former Arsenal player, has missed 44 league games in his four seasons at QPR due to injury. His form has also been very inconsistent, with just four goals in the 2023–24 campaign.

In addition, Poveda’s injury missed the last five games while on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, ending another injury-plagued season for the Colombian international, who at 24 years old has made 171 appearances overall (compared to 22-year-old Dan Neil’s 206).

One thing could help Sunderland on the injury front

It’s no secret that Sunderland has had injury problems during the previous two campaigns. But it’s still unclear what’s causing these problems.

It’s unclear if the problems are due to bad luck or problems with the pitch at the Academy of Light or Stadium of Light.

However, Sunderland should prepare for more injuries by building a sizable first team roster and assume that they will occur again.

The next manager will probably want to play front-footed, quick football, so he’ll need a healthy first team that he can rotate through each week.

The next manager can’t be held back by injured players and so Speakman and Sunderland shouldn’t worsen the problem by taking up first-team spots with injury prone players like Willock and Poveda.

Whilst good players, there’s just too much unnecessary risk involved with both, so Sunderland should move on and target players with a better recent record on the injury front.

If they can go one season without too many major issues then they might have a bit more luck in the league table.