Sunderland Still In For £3.5m Star, Imagine Him & Semedo

Sunderland have put their Championship play-off disappointment firmly behind them by making a swift begin to their summer time switch enterprise.

Luis Hemir Semedo became the latest player to reach on the Stadium of Mild on Sunday, the Benfica B expertise following within the steps of Nectarios Triantis and Jobe Bellingham.

After fielding the youngest team in the Championship final season on common, it says rather a lot that Sunderland’s three new recruits are aged 19, 20 and 17.

Tony Mowbray did an outstanding job final season of bedding in children, with Ellis Simms amongst them. Aged 21 when introduced in on mortgage from Everton, Simms scored seven times in 14 Championship begins earlier than returning to his guardian membership in January.

Nevertheless, in response to The Northern Echo, Sunderland are still in the running to convey Simms again to the membership subsequent season. Ipswich City are reported to have bid £3.5m for the striker, so the Black Cats will on the very least should match that provide.

Ought to Sunderland signal Ellis Simms from Everton?

Simms’ influence on the Stadium of Mild final season was large. The teenager was concerned in 0.72 targets per 90 minutes, as per FBref, which was bettered only by Ross Stewart (1.12) amongst Sunderland gamers.

What made Simms’ Everton recall all of the extra irritating is that he started only two Premier League games after returning to Goodison Park on January 1, although he did make his presence felt with a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw away at Chelsea.

Michael Owen hailed Simms’ display at Stamford Bridge, describing him as a participant with “nice skill” who might doubtlessly “lead the road for Everton in months and years to return”.

As it’s, the Toffees might as an alternative look to dump the Englishman if the correct provide is made, and Sunderland won’t need to miss out on the prospect to signal him completely.

With Semedo now on board, Stewart returning from a long-term injury and Jack Clarke nonetheless on the membership – for now, at the least – Simms may be the ultimate piece within the jigsaw.

Semedo, who’s also referred to as simply ‘Hemir’, scored 28 goals in 61 appearances for Benfica B and their U23 aspect throughout the previous two seasons. That return of a objective round each 2.2 video games is pretty prolific, but it surely should now be replicated at the next degree.

Sunderland’s newest recruit is also a “towering presence”, because the membership’s official web site put it, which might make for a really perfect link-up with Simms up high – a participant who likes to get in behind.

If that proves to be the case, there isn’t any motive why Sunderland can not go a step additional than final season and earn a return to the Premier League. Certainly, Simms merely needs to be signed with the intention to assist make {that a} actuality.