An update has emerged on Viv Solomon-Otabor, regarding Sunderland's interest in the Wigan forward.
What's the talk?
According to Nigerian Soccer, as relayed by the Sunderland Echo, Wigan winger Viv Solomon-Otabor is attracting interest from a number of sides. Sunderland, Charlton, Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn are all said to be monitoring his situation ahead of a potential swoop.
The report claims Solomon-Otabor is stalling on an extended contract with Wigan as he is hoping for improved terms from the League One outfit. He is currently set to become a free agent at the end of the month unless Wigan are able to pin him down to a new deal.
Fans would be fuming
Kristjaan Speakman must avoid an error with Solomon-Otabor as Sunderland fans should be fuming if the club signed him this summer. The winger flattered to deceive in League One for Wigan and would not be a great addition to Sunderland's ranks heading into next season.
He would not be an upgrade on their existing options in attack and this is why Speakman must retract the club's interest in him.
Solomon-Otabor averaged a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.55 for Wigan in League One. That score would have placed him 21st in the Sunderland squad for the 2020/21 campaign, behind ten other midfield/forward players for the Black Cats.
This suggests that the 25-year-old would be one of the worst players in the Sunderland squad in terms of overall performances at League One level, which does not hint that he could improve Lee Johnson's side with a transfer to the club.
The £1.5k-per-week dud provided Wigan with two goals and four assists in 28 League One appearances in the season just gone. 11 Sunderland players matched or bettered his goal return and four players were able to produce four or more assists for the club, with Aiden McGeady's return of 16 assists from the wing a standout in Johnson's team last season.
McGeady is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract for Sunderland and that could alleviate any need for a player like Solomon-Otabor, as he could be the starting left winger for another year.
This shows that Solomon-Otabor does not have the quality in his end product or his overall performances to be a good signing for Sunderland and that is why Speakman must pull out of the race for his signature.
Fans will be livid if the club wastes resources on a player who is not, on paper at least, an upgrade on their existing first-team options given his displays for Wigan. Consequently, the Mackems must look elsewhere in the market for new additions.
AND in other news, Speakman must avoid Sunderland blunder over £7k-p/w flop, Johnson won't want him...