Sunderland are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool defender Tony Gallacher, according to The Liverpool Echo. 

What's the story?

Gallacher has been with the Premier League side since 2018, having previously played for Scottish side Falkirk earlier in his senior career.

The left-back has made only one appearance for the Liverpool first-team, which came in their Carabao Cup match against Aston Villa.

Gallacher spent part of last year's campaign on loan with MLS Side Toronto, where he went on to make ten appearances in total for the club, before returning to Anfield.

But his return is set to be short-lived, with it being claimed that Gallacher is set to depart the club this summer, with Liverpool keen on a permanent exit for the 22-year-old.

That same report claims that Gallacher is one of a number of the club's academy players to be heading for the exit door this summer, as they prepare for the upcoming 2021/22 campaign.

Sunderland are believed to have made enquiries into a potential loan deal, although a permanent switch isn't being ruled out at this stage of the negotiations.

He'll have a point to prove

Sunderland could certainly benefit from adding additional depth to their defensive options this summer, as Lee Johnson looks to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion into the Championship once again.

The Black Cats were beaten by Lincoln City in their League One play-off semi-final last term, in what was a frustrating end to the 2020/21 season.

Dion Sanderson was ruled out of action towards the end of that campaign, and with Callum McFadzean leaving the club when his contract expired in the summer, it leaves Johnson with a lack of depth in defence, which will be concerning heading towards the new league campaign.

Therefore it makes sense for the club to target a deal for Gallacher, who will be eager to make a name for himself in senior football in England.

Tom Flanagan and Denver Hume are the current options at left-back, and you would imagine that Gallacher's potential arrival at the Stadium of Light would push Flanagan further down the pecking order in Johnson's plans.

We've not been able to see much of the left-back since he moved to Liverpool, as he's only made one senior appearance for the Reds, but he'll fancy his chances of performing to a high standard with a Sunderland team that are keen on a return to the Championship this term.

At the age of 21, he's got plenty of room to further his development in senior football though, and a move to Sunderland could be the ideal move for the defender this summer.

The Sunderland supporters are likely to like the sound of this potential agreement to sign Gallacher, as additional competition for places in a team that are likely to be challenging for promotion is the ideal scenario, with all the players attempting to perform to the highest possible standard.