Sunderland are letting Corry Evans go this summer. But the Black Cats will finally need to replace him.
There’s some ongoing voids in the Sunderland XI that need filling this summer, with a new striker being the main one.
But throughout their two years in the Championship, or at least since Evans’ injury, the Black Cats really haven’t had anyone to provide some steel in the middle of the park.
Evans did it brilliantly; he’s a good holding midfielder who could compliment the likes of Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah by offering a bit more in the way of defence, allowing those two to do their thing in attack.
Now with Evans leaving, it gives Sunderland reason, and also the chance to replace Evans’ presence in midfield, with Kristjaan Speakman surely on the lookout for a midfielder or two this season.
In January, Sunderland were linked with a return for one-time loan hero Yann M’Vila, though he eventually signed for West Brom.
Black Cats fans seemed largely in favour of M’Vila returning to Wearside but after seeing how he’s fared with the Baggies, fans might be glad that he didn’t come back.
Yann M’Vila hasn’t hit the ground running with West Brom
Former Black Cats midfield general M’Vila was linked with a return to the Stadium of Light in January, after spending the first half of the season as a free agent.
The Frenchman had spent three seasons at Olympiacos and has now been with the Baggies since February.
He’s made eight Championship appearances for the club and has helped them get over the line in the race for promotion, with Carlos Corberan’s side facing Southampton in the play-off semi finals.
M’Vila took a while to gain match fitness. But he’s now started three games for West Brom, finishing the full 90 minutes on one occasion.
Despite an increase in fitness though, West Brom fans seem largely disappointed by the impact of M’Vila, with @itstompreston saying ‘not a fan of M’Vila from what I’ve seen’, and @Brett_J89 describing him as ‘terrible’.
And during West Brom’s 3-0 defeat vs Sheffield Wednesday last month, @callumbridge7 said M’Vila had a ‘stinker’, with @tamestjibe describing the former Inter Milan man’s performance as ‘one of the worst performances I have seen in a long long time’.
Kristjaan Speakman was right, but Sunderland problem remains
Whilst Sunderland still need a central midfielder like M’Vila who can operate just in front of the defence, Speakman probably got it right by not signing him in the end.
Whilst it would’ve been a signing that pleased a lot of supporters, signing players as free agents midway through the season, especially those who are over 30 and who haven’t played in half-a-year, is always risky.
And maybe West Brom have found that out the hard way. Just last season M’Vila was playing top flight and European football with Olympiacos, featuring 31 times in the league.
But returning after so long out, and returning in a fast-paced Championship with a team chasing the top six has clearly been difficult for M’Vila, who is out of contract again this summer.
Expect Sunderland to have no interest, but expect the club to look for a very similar style of player.