Sunderland transfer update: What is the latest on Ellis Simms, Luis Semedo and other reported targets?

With the transfer window now officially open, what is the latest on Sunderland transfers?

Michael Graham | Jun 15, 2023

Sunderland transfer update: What is the latest on Ellis Simms, Luis Semedo and other reported targets? /

If you wanted any further evidence that Sunderland are doing things very differently these days, the fact that two players have already been signed this summer should more than suffice.

Nectarios Triantis and Jobe Bellingham have already been confirmed and there are no shortage of other names in the mix too.

So what is the transfer latest for Sunderland? Let’s take a closer look.

Jobe Bellingham

Bellingham has, of course, already been confirmed by as a new Sunderland player by the club. He will complete the move formerly when he returns from international duty.

“I’m delighted to sign for Sunderland AFC and I can’t wait to get started,” Bellingham said. “The opportunity for young players to move here and progress is clear, so I believe this is the perfect Club for me to continue my development.

“I’m grateful to everyone at Birmingham City for their support over the past 11 years and I wish them the best for the future, as I begin the next chapter of my career at the Stadium of Light.”

No details have been released, although Sunderland Nation understands it is a four-year deal with the fee just under £1.5million with a sell-on clause inserted.

Fun fact: Sunderland have already played a significant role in Jobe Bellingham’s career. His first ever senior start came against the Black Cats, on November 11 last year.

Luis Semedo

Portuguese striker Luis Semedo looks incredibly likely to follow Bellingham and Triantis to Sunderland, with t he 19-year-old set to join on a free transfer from Benfica.

Semedo is something of an unknown quantity as he is yet to feature in senior football, but he comes with a big reputation from Benfica’s youth ranks.

He also has a big physical presence. Standing at 6,2”, Semedo is seen as an ideal fit with English football. He also comes with a certain stamp of approval given Brighton took a very serious interest in him. Given the Seagulls’ recent transfer record, that probably speaks very highly of him.

Semedo has already said his goodbyes to Benfica, recently saying on Instagram: "My association with this huge club has come to an end. It was thirteen years with an eagle on my chest. There were thirteen unique years. I ask everyone and especially the Benfica supporters to understand me.

"A boy came to the club that I love, who instilled in me essential values for the man and player I am today. I thank all my colleagues, my psychologist, coaches, delegates, physiotherapists and the other members without exception, as they have made a huge contribution to my evolution.

"I will carry everyone in my heart for the rest of my life and I will always remember the wonderful moments I lived here. Thank you for making me a better professional and, above all, for enriching this path we share. Eternally grateful. See you someday! Thank you very much Benfica."

Fun fact: Should Semedo play for Sunderland he would surprisingly become the first Portuguese player to ever do so. Goalkeeper Mika was signed but never made a senior appearance. Interestingly, Semedo would not be the only player with Cape Verde heritage to play for the Black Cats, though. Cabral played once in the Premier League for Sunderland (a home defeat to Fulham) in 2013.

Ellis Simms

It’s no secret that Sunderland are looking to sign strikers this summer after leaving themselves very short in that area last season.

One player who looks like he will be on the market again is Ellis Simms, and this time a permanent move will be in the offering after he failed to shine for Everton in the Premier League.

Simms had a very good loan spell that saw him score seven Championship goals in 17 appearances.

According to The Sun, Ipswich are already testing the water with a £3.5million offer, although reports from Merseyside have played down that speculation a little.

It is an interesting one for Sunderland, as Simms is a player who did well on loan but perhaps didn’t do as well as he could have done. There is also the possibility that, after his loan was cut short by Everton, Sunderland missed him more due to the injury to Ross Stewart than due to what Simms brought himself.

There are parallels here to the Nathan Broadhead situation last summer. Simms did well here and Everton will be looking to move him on, and that will create an expectation that Sunderland will be at the head of any queue.

However, a year is a long time in football and have Sunderland, backed by a significant time of knowing they will be a Championship club next season, now been able to source better?

It does have very similar vibes as the Broadhead one, so don’t be surprised if solid interest in Simms from Sunderland does not actually materialise.

Fun fact: Only eight players in the Championship had a better goals-per-game statistic last season than Ellis Simms (0.41). One of them was Ross Stewart (0.77), who topped the entire division for this metric.

Morgan Whittaker

With Amad Diallo leaving, Sunderland will have some big shoes to fill in attack. One player the club have definitely looked at, as exclusively revealed by Sunderland Nation, is Swansea’s Morgan Whittaker.

While there is some interest there, though, it is not one the club are actively pursuing right now.

Sunderland, of course, knew that Amad would be leaving in the summer all along and a succession plan has already been put in place with Isaac Lihadji.

The Frenchman has a strong pedigree and he will likely be given the opportunity to step into Amad’s shoes.

Patrick Roberts is there too of course in the position that Whittaker likes to play, although he has just one year left on his current deal. Whittaker, therefore, may be more a contingency plan for potentially losing Roberts – although the club are not expecting to – than anything else for now.

Fun fact: Morgan Whittaker did not face Sunderland when Swansea won 3-1 at the Stadium of Light last season. He was, however, on the pitch for Lincoln when they beat Sunderland 3-1 at the Stadium of Light in the infamous Chris Maguire game the season before.

Neeskens Kebano

Sunderland have been credited in the press with a strong interest in Neeskens Kebano, who is set to leave Fulham on a free transfer.

We have no information on this one ourselves, although it feels like it could have some legs to it.

The DR Congo international has been part of three promotion-winning teams and at 31-years-old he still has plenty left in the tank.

When you analyse Sunderland’s squad, there is no like-for-like competition for Jack Clarke in terms of a right-footer who plays on the left. Kebano is a player in that ilk and a very good one too.

Jewison Bennette is happy there, of course, although he is a different type of winger when played on that side, and before his season-ending shoulder injury there were signs that Sunderland had been working on converting the Costa Rican teen to play as an inverted winger on the opposite flank as well.

Kebano has been offered a new deal by Fulham, but his game-time has dwindled so it will be interesting to see if he sees his future elsewhere.

Fun fact: Neeskens Kebano was named after Netherlands, Ajax and Barcelona legend Johan Neeskens, who was his father’s favourite player.

Alexander Aravena

Sunderland have been heavily linked with Chilean forward Alexander Aravena in the South American press, and they have had scouts take a good look at the 20-year-old.

The Black Cats are far from the only side to do so, though, with Genk, Club Brugge and Marseille all keeping a close eye on him. Most recently, Norwich City are reported to have joined the chase too.

Aravena will not come cheap, though, and Universidad Católica are looking to prompt a bit of an auction from Europe for the youngster this summer.

That alone makes it tough to entirely trust what is coming out in the press, although it seems unlikely that Sunderland would get involved in a bidding war right now regardless.

Fun fact: Aravena has had a bit of a spectacular season for Universidad Católica with nine goal contributions, seven of which were goals, in just 13 Primera Division matches.