According to reports in the Sunderland Echo via Mark Donnelly and by Andy Warren of the East Anglian Daily Times, Sunderland, as well as League One rivals Ipswich Town, are interested in Barnsley winger Luke Thomas. The 21-year-old is currently on the fringes of the Barnsley first-team and could be allowed to leave on loan this month.
Sunderland Transfer News: Black Cats Eye Winger
Barnsley Winger Luke Thomas Linked
Black Cats boss Lee Johnson, who identified the need for extra pace in the final third soon after being appointed, will be hoping to remedy this in the transfer window.
Early in December Johnson said: “I do think it looks like we need a bit of help in terms of a couple of attributes. Maybe we need a couple of extra personnel if possible in January. Maybe somebody to stretch the game in a certain position, maybe we need a bit of extra pace and power. I think that will open it up for other players to come into it – that would be a priority.”
Barnsley winger Luke Thomas has been strongly linked with a move to the Stadium of Light on loan this month. Thomas has featured for the Tykes 19 times so far this season but only seven of those have been starts.
The England U20 international signed for Barnsley from Derby County for £1.2 million. He played just twice for the Rams; however, it was a successful loan spell at Coventry City that persuaded Barnsley to part with over £1 million during the summer of 2019. He has gone on to play 56 times but is set to be loaned out this month.
Thomas, who was 20 at the beginning of last year would not be classed as a senior player should he sign for Sunderland. At present, Lee Johnson has just one space left in his squad for a senior player.
Defender Set to Leave Sunderland
Defender Mogan Feeney, signed last summer by former manager Phil Parkinson on a short-term deal, will leave the club this month. Feeney, whose contract expires in January, has had his time on Wearside severely disrupted by injury. The defender played and scored in the 8-1 victory over Aston Villa in the EFL Trophy but was soon out of the first-team picture due to a knee injury.
Speaking to safc.com, head coach Lee Johnson said: “We had a good chat with Morgan and I think he would be an excellent signing for somebody. We just felt that with the strength in depth we have in that particular position, Morgan is at a time in his career where he needs to be a big fish in a small sea and find his identity.”
Main Photo
