An attacker linked with Sunderland ahead of the summer transfer window will become a free agent on July 1st.
The summer transfer window opens on June 14th, though for Sunderland, it might be a slow start to proceedings.
The club’s ongoing managerial search has been at the fore of Sunderland thinking for more than three months now.
But it looks like the Black Cats are closing in on hiring their replacement for Michael Beale with a recent statement from owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus revealing that an announcement is imminent.
It’ll allow the club and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman to really press on with transfer matters, with several names mentioned alongside a move to the Stadium of Light.
QPR’s Chris Willock has been mentioned but that links gone cold. Josh Murphy at Oxford United has also been linked, but he looks set to sign a new deal with newly-promoted Oxford.
Elsewhere, Ian Poveda has been mentioned; the two-time Colombian international winger sees his Leeds United contract expire this summer.
Leeds United set to release Sunderland target Ian Poveda
Poveda, 24, has been in and out of the Leeds United first-team since his arrival in 2020, making just 30 appearances for the Whites.
He’s spent time out on loan, most recently with Sheffield Wednesday in the second half of last season where he won over the hearts of Owls fans.
Sheffield Wednesday are keen on a return for Poveda, with Sunderland, Burnley, and Luton Town previously mentioned.
On Friday, Leeds United announced their retained list ahead of the 2024/25 season, revealing that Poveda will officially become a free agent on July 1st.
With Sheffield Wednesday, former Manchester City youngster Poveda featured 10 times in the Championship, claiming one assist.
Why Ian Poveda could be a shrewd signing for Sunderland
Poveda spent time with some of Europe’s biggest clubs as a youth player; Barcelona and Manchester City are among his former teams.
But it’s certainly been a tough last few years for him, with injury and numerous loan spells not allowing him to really settle down.
He showed his class at Sheffield Wednesday though with fans really warming to the tricky right-winger, who can provide that spark in the final third.
Although he only claimed the one assist for the Owls, and no goals, his creativity played a huge part in Sheffield Wednesday’s eventual 20th place finish.
And that spark in attack is something Sunderland desperately lacked at times last season, especially so in the final part of the campaign.
If the likes of Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham leave this summer then Sunderland will need some added depth and quality in attack.
Poveda will bring just that, but there’s of course question marks over his fitness, so he’d had to prove himself.
If the financials are right, though, Poveda could be a very shrewd signing for Speakman and Sunderland.