New Sunderland Boss David Moyes is reportedly keen to sign Adnan Januzaj from Manchester United and make him his first signing of the new era at Sunderland. The Belgian who spent his youth career at Fc Brussels and Anderlecht had spent much of the last season at Borussia Dortmund on loan. Januzaj after his breakthrough season in 2013/14, failed to make a similar impact and is now deemed surplus to the requirements at Old Trafford. The player would be looking to play regularly to continue with his development and Sunderland can offer him the prospect of first team football.
The 21-year old Belgian is a versatile player and can play either as a winger or as an attacking midfielder. Sunderland do not have anybody to provide that creative spark from the midfield and Januzaj can be the missing piece of that puzzle at the Stadium of Light. The Belgian was one of the bright spots of Moyes’ tenure at Old Trafford and did play his best football of his career so far. Since Moyes left United, Januzaj failed to perform on the same level and struggled under Van Gaal which resulted in a loan move to Germany.
At the Signal Iduna Park, the midfielder could make only six appearances, all coming as a substitute. He was recalled from his loan on January but made only three appearances since coming back and since his fine form in 2014, when he was called up to the Belgium national side and played six times, also failed to win a single cap for his country in the next two years. Januzaj is only 21 years old at the moment and is in a crucial phase of his career where, as he has already experienced, needs to play regularly in order to be amongst the mix and improve. He certainly won’t be having that opportunity at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho. Linking up with his former boss at Sunderland thus would be an excellent prospect for both the parties.
The Belgian is a player who has got good feet, is very creative, one who can reciprocate nicely any passing move and is also a very good crosser of the ball. Sunderland would certainly enjoy having a player with those attributes and under Moyes, the Black Cats can turn into a very good passing side in which Januzaj would have a big role to play. Apart from providing the creativity from the middle third or even from the channels, the Manchester United player can also put some teasing deliveries into the box and invite the likes of Defoe and Borini to try and get to the end of them. Sunderland are desperate to get the player in quickly and are also prepared to accept a loan deal if United refuse to sell the player. David Moyes and Sunderland would be making a very smart move if they can get their hands on the young player.
