He already gained a nickname based on Erling Haaland.
Sunderland manager Michael Beale, who was appointed just before Christmas following Tony Mowbray’s dismissal, would have wanted to have an impact on the squad during the January transfer window. With less than two weeks till the 1st of February deadline, there has been little incoming activity at the Stadium of Light, but the club is working to rectify this.
There were reports that Sunderland were interested in Notts County attacker Macaulay Langstaff, who the League Two club valued at £1.5 million. The Black Cats were supposed to be part of a large transfer war that included Birmingham City, Derby County, Peterborough United, Wrexham, and Scottish club Hearts, and now reliable journalist James Copley has spoken out on the matter.
Langstaff’s interest is real.
Copley revealed on Twitter that Sunderland are interested in Langstaff, calling the rumours “genuine”. In an associated Sunderland Echo piece, he lists Derby and Peterborough as potential suitors, as well as Middlesbrough, a north-east rival.
He also mentions that Langstaff’s former club Gateshead is entitled to a 10% sell-on fee if he leaves Notts County, which may mean that his current team drives an even harder bargain in any negotiations.
“Incredible” Langstaff can solve the Jack Clarke dilemma.
Langstaff’s goal-scoring heroics earned him national recognition despite the fact that he played outside the top four categories last season. He was dubbed the “Non-League Haaland” after breaking the National League goalscoring record with 41 in 45 games, a feat that former Manchester United coach Paul McGuinness described as “incredible”.
Those goals helped Notts County win promotion, and Langstaff, dubbed a “master marksman” by TNT Sports pundit Adam Summerton, has maintained his lethal form at the higher level. With 20 goals in 27 League games He leads the English Football League scoring lists after just two outings, both of which were penalties.
The Championship is, of course, a huge step up in quality, and Langstaff may require time to adjust, but Sunderland should be encouraged by his smooth transition to the EFL this season. Beale clearly needs more firepower to solve his team’s overreliance on Jack Clarke – the former Spurs man has 13 goals from the flanks this season, while no one else in the squad has scored more than four.
That disparity must be a source of concern for a team hoping to make the play-offs (they were only one goal behind sixth-place Coventry prior to their match against Hull), but a move for Langstaff may assist to solve it. Based on his performance this season, it’s difficult to argue that he’s not worth £1.5 million.
