Sunderland went into a full self-destructive mode in the 2016-17 campaign of the English Premier League and owing to the rise of their own demons, they finished rock bottom and impliedly, got themselves relegated to the Championship. In their very last game, which happened to be against Chelsea, they were brutally bulldozed by the champions by a 5-1 score line which perfectly summed up their dismal term.
Finishing 16 points adrift of the rendezvous point isn’t the sort of output they would have expected prior to the start of the season and the scenario was worsened by the exit of David Moyes.
Now apart from the introduction of a new gaffer at the helm who could earn them a promotion spot in the English second division, the Black Cats would have to bring a solid midfielder who could shield their backline meticulously. More often than not, we have seen the team shaking timorously and constructing their own downfall.
It is about time for Sunderland to lure someone like Celtic’s Nir Bitton to the Stadium of Light. Bitton used to be an instrumental cog in the tactical nous of Rony Deila but his stature has been under intense shadows under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers. The former Liverpool manager is spoilt for choices as he has the likes of Scott Brown, Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor and no wonder why Bitton has been in and out of the side in the treble-winning campaign for the Hoops.
Besides, relatively newly acquired midfielder in the shape of Eboue Kouassi is believed to be the future torchbearer for the green and white crops and this implies that the Israeli international might have to venture into new endeavours for the sake of accumulating game time under his belt on a consistent basis.
In the January transfer window, it was reported that Celtic have slapped a price tag of merely £2m around Bitton’s collar and that should be the impetus for the Tyne and Wear side based club to make a move in the summer.
A stereotypical midfielder who is aggressive enough to get into intense physical battles in the midfield, Bitton is an engine in the centre of the park and orchestrates the game on his own. He cushions the back line in a shrewd manner, jots down precise passes and is generally very calm and composed. The 25-year-old could very well be the guardian of the back four owing to his elegance and tactical intelligence for Sunderland, and frankly speaking, Sunderland are in a dire need of a player of his calibre.
