After a demotion from the Premier League, Sunderland have started their new season in the English second division in a pretty miserable manner, as they have collected merely 5 points from their first 7 games. For a club which was looked upon as one of the favourites to clinch an automatic promotion position has failed to construct anything worth pencilling so far and looking at how they have plied their trade so far, they have to up the ante considerably. Simon Grayson has some huge decisions to make in the upcoming games to better their credentials.
The Black Cats had an average summer transfer window, having lured only a few notable names like James Vaughan, Jason Steele and Aiden McGeady to the Stadium of Light. They are now looking for new faces to be acquired, and one of the latest reports by the Birmingham Mail has stated that they have put West Bromwich Albion’s youngster Tyler Roberts on their radar. Two other clubs are interested in the player, namely, Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Roberts is one of the highly rated starlets present in the books of the Baggies and is a genuinely talented attacker with notable calibre. After loan spells with Oxford United and Shrewsbury Town, the Wales U21 player has been shipped out on loan to Walsall to brush himself further and bag more experience under his belt.
However, his contract is due to expire next summer and despite the talk that the Throstles are not likely to sell him for free, he has started to attract a lot of admirers.
The 18-year-old is skilful, mobile and incredibly quick and despite his young age, he has shown immense maturity and calmness. Ever since his move to Walsall, he has been showing a lot of promise and has emerged as one of the silver linings of West Bromwich Albion’s Academy which has struggled to mould blossoming starlets into players who are capable enough to play in the top division.
Sunderland have found the back of the net merely 6 times so far and thus, their apparent knack to sign Roberts does make a lot of sense. Nonetheless, West Bromwich Albion would be looking to tie him up with a new deal in order to block his exit from the Hawthorns, and from the other side, Sunderland would be keen to lure him into their ranks to strengthen their attacking setup next summer.
