After their demotion to the Championship, Sunderland have been finding it hard in the English second division as well. The Black Cats were absolutely shambolic in the Premier League last term and kept fragmenting as the days progressed. After 5 outings this season, they have collected merely 5 points and after their latest 3-0 defeat at the hands of Barnsley where they looked terribly out of touch, some loopholes are required to be fixed immediately.
Under the tutelage of Simon Grayson, Sunderland have made some decent signings in the shapes of James Vaughan, Jason Steele, Brendan Galloway and Lewis Grabban already, with Vaughan and Grabban being the strikers signed to beef up their attacking arsenal. Despite their new acquisitions, their firepower has appeared to be blunt more often than not and further additions are really needed in order to ensure that Grayson’s offensive tactical nous fall in place.
As per one of the latest reports, Sunderland have enquired about the availability of Sheffield Wednesday’s striker Jordan Rhodes, although no bid has been tabled by them so far. Grayson is perceived to be an admirer of Rhodes, having worked with him at Huddersfield Town. The Scottish international emerged through the youth ranks of Barnsley and Ipswich Town and was then promoted to the senior side of the latter. Eventually, he moved to the ranks of Terries and then to that of Blackburn Rovers and had really productive outputs with them.
In the January transfer window of 2016, Middlesbrough lured him to the Riverside Stadium, but he failed to cement a concrete spot for himself with the Smoggies. The 27-year-old was shipped out on loan to Sheffield Wednesday for the second half of the previous campaign, whilst which was handed 20 appearances and he banged merely 3 goals. The £8million signing of the Owls is yet to hit the mark at the South Yorkshire based outfit as Gary Hooper and Steven Fletcher have been opted ahead of him in the pecking order.
Sunderland might be inclined towards signing him on loan and his entry to the Stadium of Light does have the ingredients to be a huge one for Sunderland. The Scot is someone who relies heavily on his movements and knits the teammates together up front. Rhodes had been a clinical goal getter but has failed to convince the football fraternity ever since his move to Middlesbrough. Nonetheless, with proper guidance of Grayson, he could put his career back on track if his move to Sunderland materializes.
