Sunderland retained their lead of the Championship table going into the last international break this side of the new year, and soon, plans will start to emerge for the January transfer window.
The Black Cats hit a poor patch of form prior to the two-week pause, which will raise concerns for manager Régis Le Bris as they prepare for the January transfer window.
The Wearside outfit will be aiming to secure at least a top six finish this season after a positive start to 2024-25, but now they will have their sights set on automatic promotion.
The winter market could prove a critical period of the campaign, as it offers Sunderland a chance to make additions that may make the difference in the second half of the season.
There is no doubt they will be linked to many potential moves but, as previous history shows, it’s not so easy to always get deals over the line in the January window.
Sunderland AFC transfer wish outlined involving Nathan Broadhead
When asked which player their club was previously linked to and didn’t sign but wish they had, FLW’s Sunderland fan pundit Jay Woodhead picked Nathan Broadhead after he opted to sign for Ipswich Town in January 2023.
The Tractor Boys, then a League One club, paid £1.5 million to Everton for the Welsh forward, and whilst Sunderland always held an interest in Broadhead following his loan stint back in the 2021-22 season in League One, they did not pursue a move when he became available at the start of last year, giving Kieran McKenna a free pass to land his services.
And whilst the Black Cats hierarchy never really went in for Broadhead when he became available, a hint of regret that they did not do so has been highlighted by Jay.
“I think the perfect player for us at this moment in time, we were linked with Nathan Broadhead after he left us and he went to Ipswich, and obviously we tried to sign him when Ipswich signed him, when he was with us in League One,” Woodhead told Football League World.
“We wanted him, and he chose Ipswich over us.
“Now they’re in the Premier League and not really getting much game time; he wasn’t even on the bench against Tottenham on the weekend, and then the game before he was on the bench didn’t even get brought on.”
Woodhead also believes a loan move in January for the Ipswich Town forward could be a smart move, given he is out of favour in the Premier League, whilst also highlighting that another player he regrets the club not getting in is Kieffer Moore last January—another individual who headed to Suffolk.
“I think a loan move for Broadhead would be amazing to bring him in,” Jay added.
“He was well-loved at Sunderland during his loan, so I think he’d slot into the team; even if he’s a bench player, I think he could come into the squad for a replacement for Roberts or something like that.
“It’d certainly be nice to have Broadhead back with us.
“So that would probably be number one, and number two is probably Kieffer Moore.
“I really like Kieffer Moore; obviously he signed for Sheffield United this season, but previously we wanted him but things fell through—I don’t think we offered enough money to Bournemouth for him.
“But he would be another one.
“Now we’ve got Isidor though; whilst I think he’s (Moore) a very good player, I think we’re well covered in that aspect of things now.”
Nathan Broadhead’s Sunderland stint was a successful one
Broadhead spent the 2021-22 campaign on loan at Sunderland from Everton, where he was involved in a promotion battle under Lee Johnson and Alex Neil.
The forward made 22 appearances in League One, contributing 10 goals in the process as the Black Cats won the play-off final, but he played the smallest of parts against Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe Wanderers due to fitness issues—something that would be a real issue throughout the campaign and would limit his minutes.
| Nathan Broadhead – Sunderland AFC league goals and appearances (per Fbref.com) | ||||
| Season | Appearances (Starts) | Goals (Assists) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 22 (15) | 10 (0) | ||
Sunderland tried to land Broadhead on a permanent deal in the summer of 2022 after promotion, but surprisingly he signed a new deal with Everton and was loaned out to Wigan, then of the Championship, before his subsequent switch to Ipswich.
The 26-year-old made 38 appearances in the Tractor Boys’ promotion campaign last year under Kieran McKenna but has yet to feature in the Premier League for the club, indicating that he’s well down the pecking order at Portman Road.
Sunderland could do worse than sound out Nathan Broadhead for potential January return
Things didn’t work out for Broadhead in terms of a permanent move at Sunderland, but he is well remembered for the role he played in their League One promotion.
His lack of game time at Ipswich is a concern though, and perhaps a loan move in January is what he needs to get back to regular minutes due to the intense competition for a spot in Kieran McKenna’s plans.
Sunderland adding another versatile forward could be a difference-maker when it comes to their chase for automatic promotion, and given Romaine Mundle is now facing time on the sidelines, depth has never been more needed than now – although of course no loan deals can be done for another seven weeks.
Broadhead knows the club and knows what it takes to get into the Premier League, meaning he could be a shrewd loan move in the winter for Le Bris’ side, but time will tell as to whether he’s actually on their radar.
