Sunderland’s January Transfer Window: Successes, Challenges, and Promotion Hopes
Sunderland’s January transfer window was not the busiest, but it was certainly significant. With Régis Le Bris leading the Black Cats on an unexpected promotion push in the Championship, smart recruitment was essential. While they succeeded in landing a marquee signing in Enzo Le Fée, their efforts to strengthen the squad in other areas faced some challenges.
To evaluate Sunderland’s business, TBR Football’s Strategic & Operational Head of Football, Graeme Bailey, shared his insights on the club’s winter dealings, their promotion hopes, and the retention of key young talents.
Enzo Le Fée: The Signing of the Window?
One of the biggest talking points of Sunderland’s January business was the arrival of Enzo Le Fée from Roma. The 24-year-old midfielder, who was previously a standout at Lorient before moving to Italy, joined on loan with a £20 million obligation to buy should Sunderland secure promotion.
Bailey didn’t hold back in his praise for Le Fée, stating:
“I love him as a player — when he arrived, I said he was now the best player in the Championship. He is too good for this level.”
Le Fée has already made an impact, dictating play from midfield and showing the kind of technical quality that can elevate Sunderland’s game. His creativity and composure on the ball have drawn comparisons to some of the best midfielders to have graced the Championship. In Sunderland’s recent 2-1 derby win over Middlesbrough, Le Fée was instrumental, controlling possession and setting the tempo.
Sunderland fans will be hoping that his presence helps sustain their push for promotion and that he can be a driving force in their midfield for years to come.
Read more about Enzo Le Fée’s impact here.
Struggles in the Attack: Why Sunderland Missed Out on Multiple Targets
While the acquisition of Le Fée was a major coup, Sunderland faced significant difficulties in securing additional attacking reinforcements. The club was linked with at least 12 attacking targets, but in the end, they only managed to bring in one: Jayden Danns from Liverpool.
Danns, a talented 19-year-old striker, arrived on loan from Liverpool. However, fans were left frustrated when it was revealed that he joined the club while recovering from an injury, raising concerns about his immediate impact.
Bailey explained why Sunderland struggled to land their other attacking targets:
“You would have to ask the players, but most of the deals they failed with were loans with obligations. That doesn’t suit everyone.”
This suggests that Sunderland’s recruitment team prioritized structured deals that would ensure long-term gains rather than short-term fixes. While this approach is understandable, it left them short-handed in the striking department.
Read more about Jayden Danns’ move to Sunderland.
Will Sunderland Regret Not Signing a Second Striker?
With Jayden Danns injured, Sunderland has limited options up front. Wilson Isidor remains the team’s primary striker, having scored 10 goals in 27 appearances this season, but Le Bris clearly wanted another center-forward to provide competition and depth.
Bailey addressed whether Sunderland’s failure to sign a second striker could prove costly:
“He [Danns] is a very good addition. I think he will play his part, but clearly, Régis Le Bris wanted another central player.”
Sunderland’s ability to cope with their lack of attacking depth could be a decisive factor in their promotion push. If Isidor stays fit and continues his good form, it may not be a major issue, but any injuries or dips in performance could put Sunderland in a tough spot.
Sunderland’s Promotion Hopes: Can They Get Over the Line?
Sunderland currently sits fourth in the Championship table, just five points behind league leaders Leeds United. While they are at a slight disadvantage compared to some of their rivals, they continue to grind out results.
Bailey gave his verdict on their promotion prospects:
“He [Le Bris] has done a wonderful job embracing young talent. For me, he took up the reins not from Michael Beale but from Tony Mowbray. He has continued Mowbray’s good work and taken it on.
“Sunderland are not getting top two. But do they have enough to get through the play-offs? Of course, they do.”
With automatic promotion looking unlikely, the play-offs seem to be Sunderland’s best route to the Premier League. However, the play-offs are notoriously unpredictable, and Sunderland will need to be at their very best in the final stretch of the season.
Read more about Sunderland’s Premier League push.
The Tommy Watson Saga: Sunderland’s Deadline-Day Drama
One of the most dramatic moments of Sunderland’s transfer window came on deadline day, when it looked like teenage sensation Tommy Watson might be on his way to Brighton.
Watson is one of Sunderland’s brightest young talents, and his potential departure caused panic among fans. Ultimately, the move didn’t happen, but the situation remains uncertain.
Bailey provided insight into the situation:
“Sunderland are working hard to persuade him to sign a new deal, but as it stands, it doesn’t look likely. It’s not ideal, and they have avoided this situation with their other top youngsters.
“As it stands, I think he will be leaving, but they fended off interest in January in the hope he could sign a new deal.”
Sunderland fans will hope that the club can convince Watson to stay, but if he refuses to sign a new contract, they may be forced to sell him in the summer rather than lose him for a smaller fee later on.
Keeping Hold of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg
One of the biggest positives of Sunderland’s January transfer window was that they managed to keep hold of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg, despite interest from Premier League giants like Arsenal and Manchester United.
Bailey reassured fans that Sunderland never considered selling their top young talents:
“Not at all. Allowing any of their top youngsters to leave — Rigg, Bellingham, Dan Neil, Trai Hume, Anthony Patterson — was never on their agenda.”
Bellingham and Rigg have been key players this season, and their continued presence will be crucial in Sunderland’s bid for promotion.
Final Verdict: A Solid Window, But Could Sunderland Have Done More?
Positives:
Enzo Le Fée is a massive signing and could be the best player in the Championship.
Jayden Danns adds attacking depth (once fit).
Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg stayed put, resisting interest from Premier League clubs.
Negatives:
Sunderland missed out on multiple attacking targets.
They failed to bring in a second striker, which could hurt them later in the season.
Tommy Watson’s future remains uncertain.
Sunderland fans will hope that Le Fée’s quality and the team’s resilience will be enough to secure a top-six finish and a play-off push. But whether they did enough in the January transfer window to truly push for promotion remains to be seen.