Reports claim Sunderland are one of the clubs pursuing the services of Scunthorpe United winger, Hakeeb Adelakun. The 21-year-old’s contract is set to end after this season and is already eligible to sign an extension. If he does not and chooses to move, the Lincolnshire based football club are demanding a fee of £1m.
Adelakun have been a revelation this season with 3 goals and 11 assists in 28 appearances for The Iron and won himself the EFL League One player of the month for December 2017.
Developing his game at Crystal Palace and West Ham United, Adelakun became the youngest player ever to appear for the senior squad of Scunthorpe at the age of 16 years and 201 days.
Playing under Graham Alexander, the Hackney-born midfielder’s contributions have been key in the club’s promotion chase to the EFL Championship this season. Their Boxing Day win against Blackpool put them in touching distance from the automatic promotion spots behind Blackburn Rovers.
Although the manager will be eager to keep his star wingman in the team for the second half of the season, an ambitious mind and a decent offer might not be able to hold him down.
Sunderland are facing a battle of their own after being relegated from the Premier League last season. They have again fallen to the bottom third of the Championship and are in dire need of attacking talent.
Chris Coleman took over as manager of the Black Cats after quitting his job for the Wales national team and is scavenging for possible quality additions in the upcoming transfer window.
The Welshman is heavily interested in Liverpool winger Ben Woodburn, but Huddersfield Town are also competing for this signature. Coleman had previously worked with Woodburn in the Wales national team is greatly aware of the footballing intelligence the teenager possesses. Coleman gave Woodburn his international debut for Wales on which he scored after only 261 seconds in September’s World Cup qualifier against Austria.
Adelakun is the second alternative who can look to solve his problems at the left wing position. The youngster’s crossing abilities along with his breathtaking pace down the stretch can be the missing factor in the attacking lineup.
It is no secret that Sunderland have struggled to find the back of the net with just 3 of them coming in the month of December. James Vaughan can manage to find his scoring boots again with the services of Adelakun and Lewis Grabban already firing on all cylinders.
Maybe his arrival at the Stadium Of Light can save the side from being relegated again for the second time in 2 years.
