Sunderland transfer rumour rater: Kieffer Moore, Yann M'Vila and other links analysed

It's been a slow January although Sunderland are still expected to be active this month - but for who?

It’s silly season in football, although you might not know it given how quiet it is. The January transfer window has been crawling along at a snail’s pace for Sunderland and just about everyone else this year.

There is no shortage of rumours still, of course, and we are still expecting Sunderland to be active in the next two weeks.

Which of the current rumours are the ones to keep a very close eye on though, and which are more likely to be duds?

Kieffer Moore

There is absolutely no question that Kieffer Moore is Sunderland’s top striker target this month.

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just going out and getting him. While Sunderland would want him in on loan as soon as possible, Bournemouth are happy to wait for a last minute deal to fully explore the possibility of selling him instead.

A permanent deal in January would not suit Sunderland at all due to the size of his contract and the knowledge that if they were to be promoted this season, Moore would have to be immediately replaced in the summer again regardless.

Therefore, it’s about waiting for Bournemouth to green light a loan move then battle it out with Ipswich and Cardiff to secure him. Sunderland would have a good hand, financially, to win that race, but both those other clubs feel they have plenty to offer as well.

Rumour Rater: 8/10

Luke Thomas

IMAGO / Sportsphoto

As exclusively revealed by Sunderland Nation, Sunderland have a serious interest in Thomas but, just as is the case with Moore, it’s a waiting game.

English football is in a bit of a cash crunch at the moment and with the penalties for Financial Fair Play breaches starting to role out, clubs are very cautious about spending and managing their money.

Leicester have a deal lined up for Inter midfielder Stefano Sensi but will only proceed once they sell a current player. Thomas is one they feel they could find a buyer for, so they will wait to see what happens.

That means Sunderland must wait too. They have no intention to buy him given they have two young left-backs of their own in Dennis Cirkin and Aji Alese, but would be very interested in a loan deal.

Such a deal will only happen if a buyer fails to materialise, though.

Rumour Rater: 8/10

Yann M’Vila

IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

What on earth is anyone supposed to make of the Yann M’Vila to Sunderland rumours? I mean, where do you even begin?

On the surface, it looks like a no-brainer. He is 33, so not over the hill by any means, plays in a position that Sunderland are looking to strengthen, available on a free, can be a big positive influence on the young French players in the squad, and he’s practically begging the club to sign him.

But…

You also then look at the fact that because he is a free agent, Sunderland could have signed him any time they wanted, so why wait until now?

Additionally, all the Sunderland links appear to be coming from the player himself and his agent, and they’re a very convenient way to keep his name in the press and advertise his availability.

I don’t know. The romantic in me wants to jump on the ‘one last dance’ bandwagon and just go with it. The realist in me is seeing a few red flags.

Rumour Rating: 5/10

Macaulay Langstaff

IMAGO / PA Images

County Durham-born Langstaff is a lower-league goal machine and it’s easy to see why Championship clubs are being linked with him.

However, he hasn’t even had one season in the football league yet, so there is little more than a fabulous non-league record to invest in right now.

On one hand, it may make sone sense. He wouldn’t cost a huge fee and his wages would not impact the Sunderland budgets at all. At £1.5million, then, he could be a pretty decent punt.

That said, he’s 26 and no one really knows if he can do it at a higher level than League Two, so it’s hard to see him ticking many boxes for Sunderland.

Rumour Rating: 3/10

Amad Diallo

There is little doubt that seeing Amad Diallo holding aloft a Sunderland scarf at the Academy of Light this month would be an enormous boost to everyone, but it doesn’t seem especially likely.

It’s not because Sunderland don’t want him. Of course they do. It’s not because he wouldn’t come either. He made that clear this week when he contacted a fan group on social media.

At the moment it just looks like he will be given a chance to shine at Manchester United instead, with Fabrizio Romano reporting he has already decided it with Erik ten Hag. Things can change quickly and you can’t rule it out entirely, but the chances of an Amad Diallo return to Sunderland seem very slight at this stage.

That’s a shame from a Sunderland perspective, but there won’t be anyone begrudging him it either.

Rumour Rating: 2/10 

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