Sunderland were always going to face challenges venturing up to the Premier League, but the Black Cats will find their journey up to the big time to be even more unnerving now that Jobe Bellingham has left the club.
Bellingham has followed in his esteemed brother’s footsteps and joined German behemoth Borussia Dortmund, leaving Regis Le Bris with a lot of work to do this summer to plug his noticeable gap.
The Wearside underdogs could look to bring in an entertaining EFL star as a replacement for the skilful 19-year-old.
Sunderland eyeing up move for EFL star
As per a new report by the Daily Mail, Sunderland are eyeing up a potential swoop for Leeds United outcast Sam Greenwood to enhance their attacking options.
Whilst he has struggled for large patches of his Elland Road career, Greenwood has shone away from West Yorkshire on loan with Preston North End and Middlesbrough in the Championship, with Sunderland now keen on winning his services.
Leicester City are also in the race to land the 23-year-old ahead of the Foxes heading back to the second tier, but the Black Cats’ newly obtained Premier League status – on top of the fact Greenwood actually hails from Sunderland – should surely give them a favourable advantage.
Before heading to Leeds, he was actually on the books of the Sunderland and Arsenal academies.
How Greenwood could replace Bellingham
There would be a lot of pressure on Greenwood’s shoulders to come in and fill the void left behind by Bellingham, but it’s clear from his flashes of excellence in the EFL’s elite league that he’s deserving of some more game time in the top-flight, away from being a reserve face at Daniel Farke’s outfit.
After all, much like Bellingham caught the eye with classy displays galore at the Stadium of Light, Greenwood has consistently entertained fans in the EFL when moved out on loan from Leeds.
Amazingly, the 23-year-old even amassed more goals last season in the Championship than Bellingham, with five goals collected come the end of his stay at Deepdale, compared to his now Dortmund counterpart’s four.
By the end of his loan stint in Lancashire, Greenwood scored seven strikes in total from 45 clashes, with this tally just beating his overall Boro count, which stood at five. Alongside that, he also has six Championship assists next to his name, with a chance for him to shine in the level above perhaps coming soon with Le Bris and Co.
Away from offering the same firepower as Bellingham, the “unbelievable” attacker – as Farke once described him – is also similar to the Bundesliga-bound midfielder in offering lots of versatility, with the ex-Arsenal youth starlet capable of playing in a whole host of positions like Bellingham, away from simply lining up as a number ten.
|
Greenwood’s G/A career numbers by position |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Position played |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
|
CF |
48 |
20 |
3 |
|
AM |
37 |
9 |
9 |
|
RW |
19 |
9 |
3 |
|
LM |
17 |
4 |
2 |
|
SS |
15 |
9 |
4 |
|
LW |
13 |
2 |
2 |
|
CM |
11 |
1 |
1 |
|
DM |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sourced by Transfermarkt |
|||
Greenwood actually boasts more career goals and assists lining up as a centre-forward with the 23-year-old potentially offering Le Bris another striker presence, therefore, away from the Frenchman solely depending on Wilson Isidor.
But, he can also line up as a winger and as a central figure, much like Bellingham, with everything pointing in the direction that this could be a smart move for Sunderland to make to try and patch over their star man’s exit.
Greenwood even has a goal and four assists next to his name when utilised sparingly in the Premier League by the Whites, meaning he could really kick on under Le Bris’ guidance if given plenty of action in the wake of Bellingham’s sad departure.
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