Sunderland: Porteous may be O’Nien upgrade

The January switch window is nicely underway and Sunderland are but to make their first transfer of the month to enhance their squad heading into the second half of the marketing campaign.

Tony Mowbray is but to make an addition to his staff however might be looking out for reinforcements within the subsequent couple of weeks, significantly after Premier League aspect Everton opted to recall striker Ellis Simms from his mortgage spell on the Stadium of Gentle.

The Black Cats misplaced 3-1 to Swansea on the weekend and are actually sat three factors off the play-off locations, in tenth, and 12 factors away from the relegation zone.

Sunderland have put themselves in a superb place to assault the subsequent few months and try to safe a top-six end with a watch on competing for a spot within the Premier League subsequent season.

Due to this fact, bettering the staff within the coming days and weeks may strengthen their probabilities of ending within the play-offs and that’s the reason Kristjaan Speakman and Mowbray should clinch a number of offers earlier than the tip of the month.

One participant they might signal to improve their present beginning XI is Hibernian central defender Ryan Porteous, who’s reportedly a switch goal for the membership.

Ought to Sunderland signal Ryan Porteous?

West Bromwich Albion, Norwich Metropolis and Watford have additionally been linked with an curiosity in signing the Scotland worldwide and the Black Cats should now beat off competitors from their Championship rivals in an effort to safe a deal for the enforcer.

The 23-year-old is out of contract on the finish of the season and Hibs have already confirmed that he is not going to be placing pen to paper on an extension, which implies that the gem will probably be out there for nothing in the summertime.

Sunderland ought to swoop to signal him for a cut-price price, if doable, this month because the defender has the potential to be an enormous improve on Luke O’Nien.

The present Black Cats defender, who was proven a straight crimson card within the defeat to Swansea final day trip, has had a stable, if unspectacular, marketing campaign for the membership within the second tier. He has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 and received 52% of his particular person duels throughout 25 appearances within the division.

Porteous – who former Hibs participant John Hughes hailed as a “heart-on-sleeve” and “full-blooded” warrior – has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 and received a powerful 66% of his battles in 21 Premiership outings this time period. The gem additionally averaged a rating of 7.11 and received 66% of his duels in 2021/22, which reveals that his shows this season haven’t been a flash within the pan.

These statistics point out that the Scotsman may supply extra to Sunderland as his common efficiency degree and his effectivity in his defensive actions are much more spectacular than O’Nien’s.

He’s additionally 5 years youthful than the previous Wycombe Wanderers man and will, subsequently, be a terrific long-term signing for Sunderland and somebody who they might tackle a journey by growing him because the membership, hopefully, strikes up the pyramid.