Regis Le Bris has confirmed that Sunderland are looking to sign players with more experience this summer.
Kristjaan Speakman came under heavy criticism for investing too much in youth last season, offloading the likes of Danny Batth and Lynden Gooch and bringing in a number of inexperienced teenagers.
Le Bris told the media in his press conference that the club are looking to sign ‘one or two’ players who have plied their trade in the Championship, following reports that claimed they were interested in signing Oliver Norwood.
The midfielder has just been released by Sheffield United following their relegation and could bring a lot of leadership and experience to the Stadium of Light.
Norwood shouldn’t be the only former Blades star that Sunderland are looking at though, with familiar face John Egan also sent packing this summer.
John Egan can bring two promotions and bags of experience to Sunderland
The 31-year-old joined the Black Cats’ academy in 2009 and spent five years on Wearside, but failed to make a single senior appearance.
Egan has since gone onto enjoy a hugely successful career, playing for the likes of Gillingham, Brentford and Sheffield United, winning promotion twice with the latter and going onto make 73 appearances in the Premier League.
Prior to last season, the defender was a regular in the Blades’ backline and was pivotal to their rise to the top, winning the club’s Player of the Year on two occasions.
Egan now finds himself without a club and still has a number of years to contribute to Championship football, turning 32 in three months time.
It was only two seasons ago that the centre-back impressed in the second tier as they won promotion. He made the fourth-most interceptions in the league (80), the fifth-most clearances (190) and won the eighth-most headers (177).
The Black Cats academy graduate could be a perfect fit
Given that he’s available on a free transfer, bringing Egan back could be a huge coup for Sunderland and he could really tick those boxes that the team were missing last term.
Dan Ballard and Luke O’Nien are the current options at the back, while Nectarios Triantis is far from ready, Jenson Seelt is out for the year and Leo Hjelde has far from impressed since his arrival in January.
There will no doubt be plenty of interest in Egan’s signature, but the Black Cats should definitely be throwing their name in the hat this summer.
