Could there be some surprises towards the end of Sunderland’s transfer window?

Anthony Gair says…

Ah, the old transfer window isn’t looking like it’s going quiet any time soon, does it? Unfortunately I think there’s less good news at the end of this one than we’ve had at the start of it!

I sit in a state of perpetual hope that we bring in a centre back or two, with Bologna holding off on Jhon Lucumi as much as they can. Bologna have been defensively sound in a league renowned for its defensive soundness, so I think he has to be the current top target, but whether we can get it over the line is another question entirely.

The rest of our transfer window will then depend on who leaves in the meantime, and my gut feeling tells me that some shock news could be around the corner, whether Enzo Le Fee has had enough here (which has been touted quite loudly on X with absolutely no substance), or a club makes a crazy bid for Dan Neil, Chris Rigg, Dan Ballard or Eliezer Mayenda, it’s all just speculation, but absolutely not beyond the realms of reality.

I think we could see a lot of players leave. I just hope they’re not the ones we need the most!

John Wilson says…

I can’t see past the fact that we must surely be in for a left winger/forward.

After Romaine Mundle’s injury and the collapse of an attempted signing or two in this position, I’m expecting a player in there to support Chemsdine Talbi, and after saying that, there’s a discussion to be held about putting Wilson Isidor out there occasionally.

I remember when Isidor was commenting on his opening goal against West Ham. He said that “Players were telling me to keep hold of the ball, but I thought ‘no’, this is my position.”

From that, I took that he enjoys coming in from the left, so it may be that we’ve slackened off in our determination to sign someone in that position?

I’m also expecting another strengthening of central defence — hopefully the elusive Jhon Lucumi. The only other possible position we need some more depth in, is an out-and-out striker. It’s way easier said than done but giving a name is folly with our scouts and research, so I won’t try.

Players heading through the exit door is an interesting one. Apart from the massed numbers of our ‘bomb squad’, I’m assuming Alan Browne will leave, and possibly Dan Neil. My thinking for that one is why he hasn’t yet signed a new contract, so there’s much to discuss and many players’ futures in the air.

I think in these last few days, I’ll be tuned into Sky’s Sport’s Desk quite a lot.

Phil West says…

In terms of incomings, I’m actually anticipating little movement, although given the kind of transfer business we’ve conducted this summer and the fact we’ve managed to attract the likes of Granit Xhaka to the club, that could easily change with a sudden “HERE WE GO”, so perhaps there are one or two surprises to come.

Regarding the defence, I just can’t shake the feeling that a deal for Jhon Lucumi won’t materialise.

This is to Bologna’s credit, as they’re not crumbling in the face of persistent interest and a slew of ever-increasing bids from Sunderland, and when the window closes, I suspect the central defensive options we currently have at our disposal will be the players we call upon until January. 

Risky? Possibly, but if we don’t get Lucumi, let’s hope that an elixir of perennial fitness is currently being brewed for Dan Ballard and that his prospective central defensive partners can stay fit as well. 

We’ve certainly added quality to the ranks in the shape of Nordi Mukiele, Omar Alderete and Reinildo, so perhaps they’ll be expected to show versatility in due course, filling in as and when they’re required to as we seek the kind of reliable foundation on which a competitive season can be built.

Elsewhere, and as much as I’d love to see us sign an iconic, reliable (and as-yet unnamed) Proven Number Nine to the ranks, I’d be surprised if any further attacking reinforcements arrive. As has been the case for quite a while, it seems to me that the players already signed will be persisted with and trusted to score the goals required. 

The notion of Wilson Isidor moving to a wide left position in order to change things up seems to be on the agenda and with Marc Guiu getting off the mark against Huddersfield in midweek and the club clearly having a lot of faith in Eliezer Mayenda, it feels as though this will be the Sunderland forward line for the foreseeable future — again, time will tell whether it pays off or not.

Looking at potential exits, it’s a case of “Where do you start?”

Nazariy Rusyn, Ian Poveda, Timothée Pembélé, Abdoullah Ba, Jay Matete, Niall Huggins, Joe Anderson, Blondy Nna Noekeu and Alan Browne (among others) really need to move on in order to find regular football, but unless we’re planning a mass exit on deadline day, I suspect many of them will remain at the Stadium of Light, their future prospects very much up in the air and first team football almost impossible to come by.

It’s going to be an intriguing few days, to say the least.