Sunderland have been linked with a ludicrous move for Barcelona star Fermin Lopez, with an £80 million bid apparently placed.
The Black Cats have enjoyed a superb start to life back in the Premier League and sit fourth in the table.
A huge portion of that success can be attributed to their work in the summer transfer window, having spent over £150 million on 14 new signings.
Lopez has had a real breakthrough season for the Catalan giants, scoring six times in 11 games and adding a further four assists.
Here, Transfer News Blitz writer Taylor Stephenson shares his thoughts on whether we will see the Spaniard in red and white come January.
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Has someone been playing too much Football Manager?
This has all the hallmarks of standard X transfer nonsense.
Someone gets carried away with a Football Manager fantasy, fires off a tweet from one of their so-called “in-the-know” accounts, and suddenly it spreads like wildfire.
Let’s be realistic. Lopez only signed a new contract in October, keeping him at Barça until 2029. And yes, there is a release clause…a mere €500million.
Just because I wander around a Ferrari dealership doesn’t mean I’m driving off in one anytime soon, does it?
What can we expect from Sunderland in January?
Now I’ve got that off my chest, let’s take a realistic look at what we can expect from Sunderland on the recruitment front in January.
Recruitment on Wearside has been nothing short of fantastic in recent years, and fans can expect more of the same if owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is a man of his word.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Louis-Dreyfus hinted that the Black Cats’ transfer business could depend heavily on their position come January, but reiterated his ambition to target a top-10 finish – and suggested that their recruitment strategy will reflect that.
Would a signing like Lopez help cement a top-10 finish? Absolutely. But in reality? It’s a fantasy.
Sunderland will strengthen – but not with a player Barcelona values at half a billion euros.
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