Sunderland have been connected with West Ham midfielder Divin Mubama, but a reliable Sunderland source believes a trade this month is improbable.
Sunderland are currently seventh in the Championship table. They dropped out of the top six after a narrow defeat to Ipswich Town at the weekend.
Michael Beale’s team will not panic just yet since they know a win on Friday will put them back in the top six.
The Championship play-off battle appears to be as close as ever, which means that what clubs do in January is even more important to their chances.
Mubama is one man who has recently been linked to the Black Cats. This season, the 19-year-old striker has made four cameo appearances in the Premier League.
Mubama scored 13 goals in 20 Premier League 2 games last season, but despite Sunderland’s interest, Michael Graham believes a trade this month is improbable.
A developing relationship
Graham did mention Sunderland’s history with West Ham, and the fact that the two clubs have done business in recent years might be beneficial to a future move here.
Pierre Ekwah and Aji Alese both left the Hammers for the north east, and Mubama is another name who could follow.
Despite his little involvement in the senior team this season, he is certainly widely liked and well regarded. This would make a deal much more difficult to complete this month, as January is notoriously difficult for signing replacements for outgoing transfers.
Sunderland have a couple more weeks left in the transfer market to prepare for what appears to be a difficult last few months.
