BREAKING NEWS: SAM HOSKINS HAVE PUT PEN TO PAPER AHEAD OF JANUARY AS REPLACEMENT FOR JACK CLARKE

•  Sunderland’s young squad is struggling to find consistency this season, but they are just one point behind sixth-placed Cardiff City.
•  Julian Carranza, a prolific striker from the MLS, could be a valuable addition to the team in the January transfer window.
•  With the potential departure of top goalscorer Jack Clarke, Sunderland should consider bringing in Sam Hoskins, a talented winger with a proven track record in the lower leagues.The Black Cats are yet to truly find there rhythm, this season. They did go through a month-long stretch without losing right at the start of the new league campaign, but that was then followed up by four losses in six games.
  

  

  These types of scenarios are to be expected from a team like they have. The average age of their squad is just 22-years-old, so they don’t necessarily have the maturity and knowhow to pull results from games where they’re not totally on form.

  They currently sit just outside those top-six spots, but only one point behind sixth placed Cardiff City.

  If Sunderland are wanting to have an ever better chance at winning promotion than they did last year, they’re going to need to have a brilliant January transfer window. Their top goalscorer, Jack Clarke, could be leaving the club in the new year. If it happens, that sale would certainly hurt the squad, but these moves would considerably improve it.

  In: Julian Carranza

  By the time that January comes, the Argentinian striker will be coming off the back of leading his team to the MLS playoffs. His Philadelphia Union side have a 3-1 lead against New England Revolution, heading into the second leg.

  During the 2023 season, Carranza has scored 14 goals and registered five assists in 32 games. The 23-year-old is also one of the best in the league when it comes to shots per goal. On average, he finds the back of the net once in every six attempts he takes.

  Even though Sunderland have brought in quite a few number nines over the past year, not one of them has scored a league goal in the 2023/24 campaign. Carranza’s age matches with their general recruitment profile, and he’s prolific.

  Out: Luis Semedo

  The Portuguese striker may have been brought to the northeast in the summer, but he quickly fell out of favour. The Black Cats need to bring in another goalscoring option, even if their current most prolific scorer stay