As Sunderland slowly make their way out of the relegation zone, which looks quite a possibility before the new year now, the Black Cats are looking at new enforcements after a disappointing first half of the league.
As per reports, Sunderland boss David Moyes is plotting a move for Stoke City veteran Peter Crouch coming January as the Scottish manager aims to reunify the towering forward with his old compatriot Jermain Defoe.
Both the players have played together in Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur apart from of course in England colours. The players apparently had 24 goals between them in 37 appearances in the first Tottenham season, and Moyes would like the duo to spark something similar yet again before they hang up their boots.
Crouch, now 35, is struggling to get a first team chance at Stoke City with Mark Hughes having options like Marko Arnautovic, Bojan Krkic, Wilfred Bony and Walters before the veteran Englishman in the pecking order.
Apparently, Moyes doesn’t have much in his transfer kitty to splash coming January and Crouch seems like a wise and cheap deal to strike at the moment. The 6ft 7 inch forward has managed only start this season against Everton and starting eight other times from the bench.
With his contract ending next summer, Stoke City are very much likely to get something from his sale in January, no matter how meagre it might be. Although Hughes has repeatedly insisted on keeping the player, it is a distant probability now.
Crouch has 412 goals in his long Premier League career and 52 goals in European competitions. His immense experience makes him a worthy forward even at this age. His stature as the first-choice striker for the Potters has diminished in the last two years since his big money move to Stoke in 2011. It’s quite visible why highly Moyes still rates him. He has moved up the target list surpassing their previous preferred target Ulloa.
Defoe has been phenomenal for under-performing Sunderland this season, scoring eight times in 15 appearances so far. Crouch could provide a much-needed aerial threat for Sunderland and a complementary partner for Defoe to get the link-up play up front. With Fabio Borini also on the wings, the Black Cats could become quite an effective attack with Crouch’s inclusion.
Although it is clearly not a long-term solution and surely Crouch will not the only option to pursue this winter, he will have the all-important responsibility of getting points from difficult fixtures. When the team will have to spend more time defending throughout the match, a good set-piece might just find the back of the net through and Crouch’s presence could well be vital for that to happen.
And who knows, if used prudently, Moyes might just get Crouch to turn around their dismal season completely.
