An update has emerged on Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray and his plans for the upcoming January transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to The Sun, the Black Cats boss is interested in snapping up central midfielder Bradley Dack from Blackburn Rovers to bolster his squad.

The pair worked together at Blackburn and Mowbray is now eyeing a reunion with the playmaker to improve his options in the attacking areas.

It is stated that the Lancashire side may be willing to allow him to depart on a free transfer in January as he is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Alex Pritchard 2.0

Sunderland could repeat the masterclass they played with Alex Pritchard by securing a deal for Dack. Kristjaan Speakman signed the former Norwich man last summer after he was released by Championship side Huddersfield and he has been a great success on Wearside.

The attacking midfielder produced four goals and nine assists in 28 League One starts as the club secured promotion to the second tier and has managed one goal and three assists in 19 matches this term - creating 2.1 chances per game.

Pritchard kickstarted his career at the Stadium of Light after contributing just one assist in 36 Championship appearances across his final two seasons with the Terriers, failing to score a single goal in that time.

Dack is in a similar situation in the sense that he has not found his best form in the last couple of years. Since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, he has scored four times and provided one assist in 36 league outings for Blackburn.

The £11k-per-week gem had plundered 24 goals and eight assists in the two Championship seasons prior to that and 18 goals and nine assists in League One in his first campaign with the club.

This shows that the quality is there for the 28-year-old to be an outstanding performer in the second tier as he has proven himself in the past. Therefore, he has the potential to be another Pritchard as he could reignite his career at Sunderland whilst working with his former manager.

Mowbray previously described Dack's enthusiasm for the game as being "amazing to watch" and the midfielder has captained Rovers at times, which suggests that he has the scope to be another leader on the pitch for Sunderland.

Therefore, he could be an excellent signing for the Black Cats and, on a free transfer, is a gamble worth taking to see if he can be the next Pritchard on Wearside.