A striker who Sunderland tried to sign last summer and again in January has just scooped all the end of season awards with his loan club.
Sunderland will once again be in the market for striker signings this summer, as has been the case since the Black Cats returned to the Championship in 2022.
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is a man under pressure following a particularly poor January transfer window.
The club desperately needed a striker, and despite having agreed deals for two new strikers, they ended the window with three new signings but no new strikers.
But one former target may well be available again this summer; Jay Stansfield.
The Fulham striker was wanted by Sunderland before the 2023/24 season and then again in January. But he stayed with Birmingham City where he’s since scooped all five of the men’s end of season awards.
Sunderland target Jay Stansfield earns Birmingham City accolade
Stansfield joined Birmingham City on loan from Fulham last summer, following his impressive spell on loan with Exeter City in League One the previous season.
The 21-year-old scored nine and assisted seven more in 36 League One outings for Exeter, then going on to score 12 and assist two more in 43 Championship outings for Birmingham City in 2023/24.
Despite his side’s relegation, Stansfield earned huge praise, shown in the end of season awards in which Stansfield won the Top Scorer award, as well as Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season, Supporters’ Player of the season, and Goal of the Season.
What next for Jay Stansfield after Birmingham City loan
The next step for Stansfield feels inevitable.
He’s shone in League One for Exeter City and then at the bottom-end of the Championship with a struggling Birmingham City side.
With Fulham still in the Premier League and Stansfield still looking like a way off challenging for a first-team spot there, another Championship loan move feels like the next logical step.
There’s been no official confirmation from Fulham as to what their plans for Stansfield are this summer.
But a loan move to a top-end Championship club would surely be beneficial, and Sunderland would surely be interested.
Sunderland’s form in the second half of the season was not top-end Championship form, though. It was far from it and if Sunderland want to be competitive in the loan market this summer, they need to prove that they’re still an attractive place for Premier League clubs to send their youngsters.
But with Jack Clarke potentially leaving and uncertainty over the futures of Nazariy Rusyn and Luis Hemir, whilst Mason Burstow‘s loan has finished, there’ll be plenty of game time available to someone like Stansfield who can play on the wings and up front.
If the Black Cats can hire a manager soon, and an exciting one too, and state their intent for the next season with some positive signings, then a return for Stansfield could be on the cards.
Speakman clearly likes the player and his season at Birmingham City won’t have changed that. Expect Fulham to make a decision on Stansfield later in the summer, as clubs often do with players in his situation, and if Sunderland have enjoyed a good summer by that point, they should move for Stansfield.
