After losing a 2-goal lead to Crystal Palace at the weekend to drop all three points, David Moyes’ Sunderland have now hit rock-bottom in the points table taking just one point from the first 6 games. The manager has used a number of different combinations over the 6 games but has not been able to settle into a team that will give him some results and this has seen him scout for targets to add to his squad as soon as the transfer window re-opens. One such player, who is linked with a quick move back to the Premier League is Portuguese playmaker Joao Carlos Teixeira.
The 23-year old was a fringe player for Liverpool for some time and was given a chance to prove himself at the biggest stage by Jürgen Klopp in the previous season. However, he was not able to impress the manager enough to warrant a place in the side in a Europe-less season and he was sold back to his homeland with Portuguese giants FC Porto ready to add him to their squad.
The midfielder made a dream move back to one of the best clubs in his country but has struggled to make it into the first team in all competitions this season. This has seen the club put him up for loan and Moyes is reportedly interested in bringing him back to the league.
A silky player with phenomenal control, Joao was one of the most impressive youngsters that gave Klopp a bit of a respite in the FA Cup last season. He is a natural midfielder who loves to have the ball at his feet and dictate the game and his time at Anfield has taught him enough to have made an impact on the Reds before leaving the country.
He is a smart operator who has some serious skills and though the final ball is sometimes not the best, he is a player who will definitely add an attacking threat to a Premier League side. He was by no means a liability for Liverpool as he impressed so much that the Liverpool fans were puzzled as to why he wasn’t featuring more for the first team.
With no chance of regular game time at the club, Teixeira had to move when Porto came calling. However, he will now have a chance to prove himself in the best league in Europe if he makes a loan move to the Stadium of Light in January. David Moyes likes his players to be patient and hardworking and the 23-year old is someone who will provide both to the team.
Joao Teixeira is more than a decent player who has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in Europe and regular game time is the only thing that he lacks. The likes of Steven Pienaar, Adnan Januzaj and Duncan Watmore have not been at their best so far this season and Teixeira will add another dimension to the team’s attack that might prove to be the difference come the end of the season.
Porto are ready to let go of the player on loan if they find a decent replacement and Sunderland will hope that they can persuade the Portuguese outfit to strike a deal anyway. The Black Cats are in desperate need of some new blood in the squad and though by January, half of the season is over, they will have the other half to try and get back to a respectable position. Do you think the Liverpool outcast is a good option for David Moyes?
