Sunderland should be doing all they can to sign Dion Sanderson this summer after a legend from his current club suggested that the player is not highly rated by the Premier League side.
What's the talk?
Wolves legend Steve Bull has suggested that the Premier League side do not believe Sanderson will ever be good enough for the top level. The retired striker believes that the Midlands outfit would have loaned him out by now if they saw him as a player with the potential to return in the future, hinting at a permanent exit from Molineux.
“I think that Wolves would have sent him out on loan to see if he managed to get any better, but obviously, they don’t think he has.
“In other people’s eyes, he’s probably a top-class player but, in Wolves’ eyes, he’s not and they must have somebody else on their radar that is better.”
Sanderson spent last season on loan to Sunderland in League One and the northern side are reportedly interested in signing him for a second spell.
Johnson will be on cloud nine
Lee Johnson will be left on cloud nine if Sunderland are able to complete a deal for the defender.
Whilst the Premier League side may not have faith in him, The Black Cats are keen on a deal to bring him back and Kristjaan Speakman could be encouraged by Bull's comments.
The 21-year-old defender is already used to playing in Sunderland's system and would need no period of adaptation upon joining the club. Whereas, other signings may come with a degree of risk as it is tough to tell exactly how they would fit within the set-up and how they would cope with League One football.
Johnson made his feelings clear on the “Rolls-Royce” of a defender last season. The former Bristol City coach hailed him as a shining light at the back in League One.
"He was the one that was kind of a shining light in terms of the defensive performance.
"That can be clouded sometimes by the team [performance] because individually he has done alright. I think that's where it starts for all of us - make sure you are a leader for at least two people.
"If you're playing at centre-back, then look after a central midfielder, the other centre-half, and maybe the right-back. If you look after those, it switches you on and helps you to focus and concentrate."
"He's a centre-half and at his age level, he is an absolute Rolls-Royce."
The starlet averaged an impressive WhoScored rating of 6.88 in 17 starts as a centre-back in the third tier for Sunderland last season. This shows that he is capable of being consistent despite his young age and that he is able to put in quality performances, which is why Johnson will be buzzing with the prospect of working with him again next term.
Speakman must do all he can to get Sanderson back to Sunderland this summer.
AND in other news, Speakman could strike gold for Sunderland as 6ft 1 beast agrees to join The Black Cats...