An update has emerged on Sunderland target Hayden Coulson, regarding Ipswich's pursuit of the defender.

What's the talk?

According to TEAMtalk, Ipswich are closing in on the signing of Sunderland target Hayden Coulson. The Tractor Boys are said to be in pole position for the 23-year-old's signature, although it is not clear whether it is set to be a permanent move or on a temporary basis.

Sunderland and Luton are also reportedly keen on landing the full-back from Middlesbrough, but Paul Cook's side are seemingly poised to win the race.

Fans will be gutted

Fans will be gutted by this news as they are club are on the verge of missing out on a talented player to one of their rivals in League One. Coulson has Championship experience and plays in an area Sunderland are severely lacking in depth.

As of right now, the Black Cats have no natural full-back options contracted to the club heading into next season. Luke O'Nien is listed as a right-back by Transfermarkt, but played the majority of his games as a centre-back in the 2020/21 campaign.

This means that Lee Johnson is in dire need of full-back additions in the coming weeks. Therefore, missing out on Coulson would be a cruel blow for the club, especially to a team that could be competing with them for promotion out of the third tier.

Supporters will be livid that Kristjaan Speakman has allowed Ipswich to steal a march on the defender, as he also could have been a quality addition to the squad.

Earlier this year, Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock called the left-back a “breath of fresh air” and praised his ability in tight situations, following his spell out of position in midfield. He told Gazette Live:

“He does so well in training in that type of situation - tight areas with bodies around him. He’s the best player at the club in training in those tight situations.

“So we thought, why not give him a go at number ten. This opportunity came today.

“We didn’t have many options, but it was a good time to let him have a look at that position.

“And I think he revelled in it after the first five minutes. It looked like he was a breath of fresh air.”

In the 2019/20 season, Coulson played 30 games in the Championship and averaged a solid WhoScored rating of 6.76, making 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game.

This shows that he is a player capable of putting in good performances in the second-tier, which would make him a great signing for Sunderland in the short and long-term as it suggests he would be able to thrive in League One whilst holding the potential to make the step up if they secured promotion.

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