£518k Teen Could Be Sunderland’s Simms Successor

Ellis Simms’ return to guardian membership Everton in January was an enormous blow in Sunderland’s pursuit of a Premier League return, however they could simply have discovered an satisfactory substitute.

In keeping with Portuguese outlet Record, Benfica teen Luis Semedo could be very near becoming a member of the Championship facet after failing to agree new phrases with the Primeira Liga heavyweights.

What influence did Ellis Simms have at Sunderland?

Simms made a big impact in his half-season spell on mortgage on the Stadium of Gentle, scoring seven goals in 17 league matches to not solely assist Sunderland adapt to life again within the Championship, but in addition compete within the larger reaches of the division.

The 22-year-old might have departed with 31 league video games of the marketing campaign left to play, together with the two-legged play-off semi-final, but he nonetheless completed because the club’s fourth-top scorer behind Jack Clarke (9), Ross Stewart (10) and Amad Diallo (13), the latter of whom additionally impressed on mortgage from a Premier League facet.

With a mean of a aim every 0.56 league games, solely Stewart (0.86) was more practical in assault for Sunderland this previous season than Simms, who additionally chipped in with a few assists.

Sunderland in the end battled on to succeed in the play-offs with out Simms, the place they went on to lose 3-2 on combination to promoted Luton City, however it stays to be seen what may have been with the Everton academy product of their ranks for the second half of the season – particularly contemplating he started just two Premier League video games for the Toffees after being recalled.

Might Luis Semedo change Simms at Sunderland?

On the face of it, it’s straightforward to see why Semedo is being touted as a like-for-like substitute for Simms. In spite of everything, each gamers are similar in stature, measuring in at roughly the identical top at 6 foot 3.

Semedo, whose taking part in fashion has seen him described as “a big physical unit” by soccer reporter Josh Bunting, additionally has an eye fixed for aim, as mirrored by the four goals he scored in 4 video games for Benfica within the 2022-23 UEFA Youth League.

Nonetheless, whereas Simms arrived at Sunderland with some expertise of first-team soccer below his belt following spells on mortgage with Blackpool and Hearts, Semedo has up to now represented solely Benfica B and Portugal U20.

Even earlier than discovering his scoring boots in European competitors final season, Benfica clearly noticed lots within the teen as they handed him a professional contract in August 2020 when he turned 18.

Whereas his general numbers at age-grade degree are hardly a lot to shout about, having scored simply twice in 18 Segunda Liga appearances final time period, Sunderland have a behavior of discovering gems in want of fine-tuning – not least Stewart, who went from scoring two goals for Ross County in 2020-21 to 26 targets in his first full marketing campaign with the Black Cats.

With Diallo additionally heading again to guardian membership Manchester United – although a doable mortgage return has been touted – Sunderland must be sensible with their switch enterprise to plug an apparent hole – or gaps.

As boss Tony Mowbray stated in January, any new signing “has to suit the factors of what we’d like”. Whether it is one other proficient younger attacker in want of fine-tuning that Sunderland are certainly after, Semedo – who at a reported €600k (£518k) is a low-cost punt – may effectively be their man.