Sunderland: Cresswell could be Ballard 2.0

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman was a busy man throughout the January switch window as he made quite a few additions to Tony Mowbray’s squad.

Pierre Ekwah, Joe Gelhardt, Joe Anderson, and Isaac Lihadji all arrived on the Stadium of Gentle to bolster the group heading into the second half of the marketing campaign, though in addition they misplaced Ellis Simms because the centre-forward was recalled by Premier League aspect Everton.

The Black Cats chief could have already got one eye on enterprise he wish to do in the summertime switch window to proceed shaping the aspect and one goal the membership ought to push to signal is central defender Charlie Cresswell.

In January, The Sun reported that Sunderland and Middlesbrough have been each focused on signing the England U21 worldwide, who may very well be obtainable for a payment within the area of £4m.

Mowbray and Speakman should reignite their curiosity within the younger defender in the summertime as they might repeat the blinder that was performed with Daniel Ballard by snapping up the Leeds United prospect.

Ought to Sunderland signal Charlie Cresswell?

Ballard was introduced in on a everlasting deal from Premier League aspect Arsenal in the beginning of the season after impressing on mortgage at Millwall within the Championship final time period – averaging a Sofascore rating of 6.95 throughout 31 outings for the Lions.

His type for Gary Rowett’s aspect satisfied Sunderland to signal the gem and the teenager has been a stable performer, successful 61% of his duels and averaging a score of 6.87, in ten appearances both aspect of a 21-game spell on the sidelines attributable to damage.

Cresswell, whose capacity within the air was described as “powerful” by journalist Josh Bunting, may comply with in Ballard’s footsteps – as soon as once more – because the 20-year-old joined Millwall to interchange the previous Gunners man and has been glorious within the second tier.

The Leeds United brute has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.03 in 17 matches for the Lions – successful 59% of his particular person duels – and proven that he can ship persistently good performances at that degree.

Ballard went from being a Premier League prospect to impressing on mortgage at Millwall, to then becoming a member of Sunderland on a everlasting deal and Cresswell may comply with that pathing by securing a transfer to the Stadium of Gentle in the summertime.

A rating of seven.03 within the Championship would place him second within the present Black Cats squad, behind solely Ross Stewart, and this implies that starlet may very well be a wonderful signing for Mowbray if the 20-year-old can keep, or enhance upon that type within the coming seasons.

Due to this fact, Sunderland may replicate the masterclass they performed with Ballard by reigniting their curiosity in Cresswell and signing him on a everlasting foundation in the summertime.