Soccer Football - Championship - Sunderland v Middlesbrough - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - January 22, 2023 Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray reacts Action Images/Ed Sykes EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Sunderland are unlikely to make another signing this month as the transfer deadline nears, according to Phil Smith.
The Lowdown: Deadline day so far
Tony Mowbray has experienced a busy deadline day with the arrival of Joe Anderson confirmed before defender Bailey Wright left to join Championship rivals Rotherham on loan for the remainder of the season (Sunderland Echo).
This all came after striker Ross Stewart was ruled out for the rest of the season (via ChronicleLive) following an Achilles injury sustained against Fulham in the FA Cup, leading to a suspicion that a like-for-like replacement could arrive through the door at the last minute.
The Latest: Smith update
However, that looks incredibly unlikely now as the window ticks to a close, with Sunderland Echo journalist Smith reporting further signings at the Stadium of Light are unexpected, including a striker.
He tweeted: “It’s not looking likely that #SAFC are going to make any further additions at this stage*
“Never say never, sounds like club still looking & working from what I hear but expectation at the moment is that business is likely done.
“*usual disclaimer – things can quickly change.”
The Verdict: Disappointing news
With Sunderland sitting just two points outside of the play-offs, it will be bitterly disappointing that they will be unable to replace their top scorer, who’s netted 11 times in just 15 games (via BBC).
Sunderland’s joint-second-highest scorer is Ellis Simms, who left the club earlier in the window following the termination of his loan by parent club Everton with them floundering in the relegation zone of the Premier League.
There was hope that Simms would be able to return to the north-east this month with the Liverpool Echo reporting just days ago that Mowbray was still looking into a possible return, but it looks as though that is now off the table.
Stewart’s replacement against Fulham was Abdoullah Ba, which saw a change of shape with the 19-year-old not playing as a striker at all for Sunderland.
It’s certainly a worry and failure to bring an extra body in what could be the difference between a play-off place and a bottom-half finish given how close the pack is in the Championship.
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