Sunderland are one of many clubs interested in free agent and former England international midfielder Fabian Delph. Richard Mennear of the Sunderland Echo and Ben Wignall of Football League World have reported that the Black Cats along with Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, West Brom and Reading are keen to add the former Manchester City star to their squad.
Scottish giants Rangers are also reportedly interested in Delph who has been without a club since leaving Everton in the summer.
Former England International Midfielder Fabian Chased by a Host of Clubs
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Fabian Delph Set to Be Given Football Lifeline
32-year-old former England international midfielder Fabian Delph could be set to be given a football lifeline. The former Leeds United player is currently without a club following three injury-plagued years at Everton.
Delph who cost Manchester City a reported £8 million in 2015 and Everton £8.5 million in 2019 has featured 20 times for his country. He was part of the Three Lions’ 2018 World Cup squad; however, since the tournament, Delph has struggled for fitness and featured just 41 times in all competitions for Everton in three years.
Should the experienced central midfielder prove his fitness, he could be an excellent squad member of whichever club secure his services.
Sunderland Close to Signing a Midfielder on Deadline Day
Sunderland head coach Tony Mowbray admitted that the club were close to signing a midfielder before the transfer window shut at the beginning of the month. Despite fans hoping for another striker, Mowbray insisted that it was not that area of the team he was looking to strengthen.
Speaking to the Sunderland Echo with regards to the type of players he was looking to sign, Mowbray said: “One was a pretty flexible defensive midfield player, someone who could play in midfield and cover Corry Evans’ position and also go out wide and play in the full-back area.
“One was a defensive player but there was never in my mind a stick-on centre-forward, I think that’s why Ellis Simms was brought in. He’s done so well that he needed to be in the team.
Mowbray has also indicated that he and the recruitment team are assessing the free transfer market but insisted that it would have to be the right player. He said: “It has to be the right player, in my mind, the recruitment team’s mind, Kristjaan’s mind, the owner’s mind…
“Players who are out of contract, they have to fit into the culture of the club. When you sign a player in the transfer window, you’ve done your work on them and you know that they are going to come in and fit into your culture.
“They know the parameters of what’s expected, you’ve had those conversations with them. If you draft in a free agent who wasn’t even on your radar in the window, you could get it disastrously wrong.”
