Gary Neville may have just handed Sunderland a huge transfer boost ahead of January.
Sunderland may have been handed a timely transfer boost ahead of January, and from an unlikely source in Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United man Gary Neville.
Sunderland may well be eyeing up a very active January transfer window after emerging as arguably the Championship’s title favourites this season.
Regis Le Bris has the Black Cats sitting in 1st place of the Championship table, now with a five-point lead at the top after Sunderland beat Oxford United 2-0 at the Stadium of Light last time out.
For Kristjaan Speakman, applying the finishing touches to the first-team squad at Sunderland could be the main aim in January.
But there’ll also be the worry, once again, of outside interest arriving for certain players, with the main ones in headlines ahead of January being Chris Rigg and Anthony Patterson.
Sunderland sensation Rigg has interest from Real Madrid whilst reports have linked Patterson with Arsenal. But both also have had strong links to Manchester United in the last few weeks.
Gary Neville lays out his January transfer plan for Manchester United
Manchester United have parted ways with manager Erik ten Hag, who leaves Old Trafford after a run of one win in eight league games, with the Red Devils 14th in the Premier League table.
Inevitably, a manager leaving may change the course of an upcoming transfer window. And Neville’s comments about United’s January transfer window in 2025 may serve as a huge boost for Sunderland should United follow suit.
Speaking to Daily Mail, Neville said: “United have been in this position many times, you begin to question every player on the pitch.
“If a manager can come in and start to get a song out of them, you can start deciding who to keep.
“I would not change anything in the January transfer window. The new manager should be made to work with these players.”
Manchester United hierarchy keen on Chris Rigg at Sunderland
Neville’s comments, should they come true, would certainly be a boost for Sunderland where keeping Patterson and Rigg is concerned.
But there still needs to be a level of caution from the Sunderland owners ahead of January; not only because other teams are keen on both Patterson and Rigg, but because United’s owners are the ones thought to have identified at least Rigg.
Earlier in the season when Rigg was linked to Manchester United, it was said that United’s hierarchy, INEOS, were the ones that viewed Rigg as a good potential signing.
TalkSPORT wrote in September: “He [Rigg] perfectly fits the profile of young player INEOS want to build their Old Trafford revamp around.”
Patterson at 24 may well be of the same thinking from INEOS.
