Sunderland could solve their flailing midfield with a summer move for this one Championship star.
Sunderland have several areas to priorities in the transfer market next summer, in what is a huge window for under-fire sporting director Kristjaan Speakman.
A goalkeeper may well needed with Anthony Patterson tipped to leave, and we’ve recently seen Sunderland linked with Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
Elsewhere, there’s players across the pitch who could leave and open up a gap in the side; Dan Ballard, Trai Hume who has recent interest from Aston Villa, Dan Neil, Jack Clarke who seems likely to leave Sunderland this summer.
Strikers will be the main focus for Sunderland this summer. But one position perhaps doesn’t get as much clout as others; the central midfield position.
Sunderland midfield conundrum
Neil and Pierre Ekwah have been Sunderland’s go-to midfielders this season.
Though Ekwah has failed to impress all that much, with allegations that Ekwah has been the Championship’s most disappointing player this season.
He’s certainly dropped from the level that many hoped and expected from him this season, and there’s suggestions that him and Neil just don’t go well together.
Aside from that, they’re just about the only two central options available right now with the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg preferred in more advanced roles.
So a new central midfielder could be key Sunderland this summer.
Sunderland should plot raid on Tony Mowbray’s Birmingham City
Tony Mowbray took charge of Birmingham City earlier in the year, though in his absence, Blues could well be relegated to League One.
They currently sit in 20th place of the Championship table and just two points above the drop zone.
And relegation would surely see a number of their key players sold off or pushing for an exit; perhaps none more so than Jordan James.
Who is Jordan James
Welsh international James, 19, rose through the Blues ranks alongside Jude Bellingham, having now been a key member of the XI for the past three seasons.
But this season in particular has seen James make waves on both the club and international stage.
Described as an ‘absolute gem’ by Wales boss Rob Page, James has shone in the Dragons’ Euro qualification campaign, even being tipped to be the nation’s next superstar following Gareth Bale’s retirement.
And for Birmingham City, James has scored eight goals from midfield, featuring 38 times in the Championship this season.
What type of player is Jordan James
A central midfielder, James is best regarded as a box-to-box type player.
He’s very physical and powerful and can provide not only creative quality in the middle, but also some steel too.
Mowbray gave a good assessment of the youngster earlier this season, telling Birmingham Live:
“He can score a goal, first and foremost. For a young boy, he knows where the net is. I like his ability to put his foot on the gas and change pace through midfield, he has some power in his legs. He’s a confident boy who doesn’t get pushed around.
“He has lots of good attributes but he has things to work on as well. He has to scan more and be aware of what’s around him. Everybody’s passing can develop. He has lots of aspects of his game to grow and get better at.”
How much would Jordan James cost Kyril Louis-Dreyfus at Sunderland
James wouldn’t come cheap.
He was wanted by Atalanta in January and numerous reports suggested that a £10million fee was in place.
But relegation would surely see that figure drop and so for Sunderland, a potential summer move for James would surely require Blues going down first.
But still, with Patterson and Clarke likely to bank the Black Cats a lot of pocket money this summer, and if the club hires an out-of-work manager like their reported no.1 target Paul Heckingbottom, there could be room in the budget for a marquee signing.
Jordan James to Sunderland analysis
Something needs to give at Sunderland this summer, but it seems highly unlikely that Speakman and Louis-Dreyfus will divert too far from the current vision.
Young players seems likely to remain the focus, though hopefully with more of an eye for experienced youngsters, such as James.
Not only that but players with Championship experience would be vital.
And James is certainly experienced now at second tier level with 101 total appearances for Birmingham City and 91 in the Championship, plus 10 caps for Wales.
And he’d give Ekwah some much-needed competition in the midfield and whoever the next manager is some depth in that position too.
Ekwah has become a real talking point in recent weeks.
His lack of energy in the middle is frustrating as he remains a player with huge technical ability; maybe an addition of someone like James could spur Ekwah into doing more off the ball.
Not only that, but James alone would be a quality addition; he’d bring goals to a Sunderland side desperately in need of them, and steel to a side that is currently quite weak.
All in all, a summer move for James, whilst expensive, could plug a gap in the Sunderland XI for years to come.
He could also become a hugely valuable asset for the Black Cats.