EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland interested in Swansea winger

Sunderland may look to a rival Championship club for attacking reinforcements this summer.

Sunderland have identified Swansea winger Morgan Whittaker as a potential summer target, Sunderland Nation understands.

Whittaker spent the first half of last season on loan at Plymouth, producing an impressive nine goals and seven assists in 25 games for the League One winners.

That led to an early recall to Swansea, although he described himself on Instagram as ‘devastated’ to return to his parent club at the time.

His return to Swansea didn’t go very well, and they used him sparingly. He made just two starts in the Championship, scoring in one of them against Stoke in February.

Whittaker, who still has two years left on his contract at the Liberty Stadium, is now expected to seek a new club this summer. Rangers have already been credited with an interest, and Plymouth are keen as well, although they may struggle to afford a permanent deal.

Sunderland have registered an interest, with the left-footed Morgan, who operates from the right-hand side, seen as someone who could potentially help fill the void left by Amad Diallo. However, an interest is as far as it has gone at this stage. 

The Black Cats are not short on left-footed attackers, although question marks exist about them all. Patrick Roberts appears to have that position cemented for now, but the former Man City man only has a year left on his current deal and is attracting Premier League interest.

Jewison Bennette prefers to operate from the left and it remains to be seen whether he could adapt to playing as an inverted forward on the opposite flank instead. Isaac Lihadji, meanwhile, is still very much an unknown quantity in English football. 

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