Sunderland have been linked with Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer ahead of the January transfer window and the youngster could prove to be Tony Mowbray’s next Ben Brereton Diaz.
According to Football Insider, a number of Championship clubs, including the Black Cats, are keen to take the forward on loan next month, as he continues to struggle for game time at the Midlands club.
Archer caught the eye in the first half of last season for the Villans, hitting four goals in just two League Cup games against Barrow and Chelsea, before his January switch to Preston North End.
His impressive form in front of goal would continue with the Lilywhites, hitting seven goals in the second half of the season, which earned him a new five-year deal and the promise of first-team football at Villa in the summer.
However, he has managed just seven substitute appearances under Steven Gerrard and Unai Emery so far this term, so it seems likely that he will depart on loan next month to ensure that his progress isn’t stifled.
Could Archer be as good as Brereton Diaz?
During his time with Preston North End, the young goal machine certainly won over manager Ryan Lowe with his ability, so there seems no reason why he couldn’t be a big success at the Stadium of Light.
Lowe said:
“Cameron has got an abundance of talent.
“It is getting him in the right places, I don’t want him coming short all the time, I want him to be on the shoulder, sniffing around, being proactive, not reactive.
Should he arrive at Sunderland next month, there seems no reason why he can’t emulate another striker to have great success under Mowbray, in Brereton Diaz.
The Chile international burst onto the scene at Blackburn under the current Sunderland boss, hitting 31 goals and 13 assists in 117 matches in total, and the Mowbray would surely love to have another top young striker with that sort of goalscoring prowess in his side.
Given that Archer managed four goals in four England U21 matches in the summer, he clearly has a lot of pedigree, so Sunderland should do all they can to bring him in next month.
