---
title: "Sunderland: Johnson targeting Carl Winchester"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-afc-safc-twitter-latest-transfer-news-now-rumours-johnson/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Fintan O'Reilly"
section: "Sunderland News"
published: "2021-01-04T17:05:35Z"
modified: "2021-01-04T17:05:35Z"
---

# Sunderland: Johnson targeting Carl Winchester

**Many Sunderland fans have flocked to a [tweet from Black Cats Twitter account @SAFCsource](https://twitter.com/SAFCsource/status/1345448588667744258) which relayed [GloucestershireLive’s claim](https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-chasing-forest-green-rovers-4850351.amp) that Forest Green Rovers captain Carl Winchester is a January transfer target for the North East club’s manager Lee Johnson.**

Per Transfermarkt, the [£180k-rated](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/carl-winchester/marktwertverlauf/spieler/169625) midfielder has scored [two goals in his 21 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/carl-winchester/leistungsdaten/spieler/169625) for Forest Green Rovers this term.

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With Winchester’s Rovers contract [set to expire at the end of June](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/carl-winchester/profil/spieler/169625), it’s now been claimed that Johnson, who previously managed the Northern Irishman [at Oldham Athletic](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lee-johnson/eingesetzteSpieler/trainer/28097/plus/0?saison_id=&verein_id=1078&liga=&wettbewerb_id=), is ‘keen’ to reunite with his former player at The Stadium of Light.

## **So, how have these Sunderland fans been reacting to this transfer claim?**

Though it seems like Johnson is a fan of the 27-year-old, who has [also played under the Sunderland boss’ father, Gary Johnson](https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-chasing-forest-green-rovers-4850351.amp), in the past, many Black Cats supporters reacted negatively to @SAFCsource’s tweet sharing this news, indicating that they wouldn’t want the 39-year-old manager to bring this particular alleged target to the North East.

**“Got the scent of Stewart Donald all over it!”**

[Credit: @Houghton1956](https://twitter.com/Houghton1956/status/1345466033868599297)

**“27 and playing in League Two doesn’t scream progression, more George Dobson!”**

[Credit: @johngraham790](https://twitter.com/johngraham790/status/1345450549072850947)

**“Can’t say I’ve heard of him or know anything about him but that’s become the norm somewhat over the past 3 seasons. Out of interest, who was the last successful signing our manager made having previously worked with them. Quinn – Reid?”**

[Credit: @ElliottSAFC](https://twitter.com/ElliottSAFC/status/1345471535998509058)

**“Any good?? Another “Google search player” for us”**

[Credit: @twangmackem](https://twitter.com/twangmackem/status/1345448778803929089)

**“Can only make the bench for FGR? He should know what he’s about though given hes managed him before. But he looks the same height & build as all our other CMs. Let’s hope hes got more pace and runs forward, not backwards & sideways”**

[Credit: @Hag\_SAFC](https://twitter.com/Hag_SAFC/status/1345466710342692866)

**“What a time to be alive”**

[Credit: @LeeMck9](https://twitter.com/LeeMck9/status/1345474513711067137)

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**In other news, [some Sunderland fans slated Josh Scowen following the North East club’s 0-0 draw with Northampton Town](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-afc-news/sunderland-black-cats-josh-scowen-northampton-lee-johnson-stadium-of-light/).**