Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - Group J - Northern Ireland v Cyprus - Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Britain - June 12, 2022 Cyprus' Fotis Papoulis in action with Northern Ireland's Daniel Ballard Action Images via Reuters/Molly Darlington
Journalist and Sunderland supporter Josh Bunting has been left thrilled by who he has heard could now sign for the Black Cats.
The Lowdown: Centre-back interest
The Daily Mail have reported that the Stadium of Light outfit are now interested in signing centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite on loan from Everton for next season.
A Patreon report from reliable journalist Alan Nixon (via Football League World) has stated that Alex Neil’s side have also entered the race to sign Arsenal centre-back Daniel Ballard.
The 41-year-old is clearly looking for a new centre-half to bolster his team, so one of Branthwaite or Ballard could well be signed this summer.
The Latest: Bunting thrilled by Ballard links
Taking to Twitter, Bunting was left thrilled by the news on Ballard, claiming that the 22-year-old would be an ‘outstanding’ signing for Sunderland.
The journalist chirped: “I’d be all over Daniel Ballard to Sunderland, would be an outstanding signing. Gives us another body at centre-back, he’s also the future. Good ball player out from the back something that Alex Neil requires in a player of that position. Would love that to get over the line.”
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The Verdict: Get it done
Sunderland will reportedly face competition from a number of their Championship rivals to sign Ballard, so this is a deal that they really need to get done as soon as possible.
Even though he has never made a senior appearance for the Gunners, he has the experience of playing in the Championship having been on loan at Millwall last season, and the Black Cats would have also caught a glimpse of him in League One when he was on loan at Blackpool in 2020/21 (Transfermarkt).
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Ballard was Millwall’s fourth-best performer in the Championship last term and ranked highly among his team-mates in terms of aerial duels won and tackles, interceptions, clearances and blocks per game (WhoScored).
The Northern Ireland international is proven at this level, and his experience would be invaluable for the Black Cats upon their return to the second tier.
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