An update has emerged on Sunderland and their interest in signing Sam Hoskins ahead of the January transfer window…
What’s the talk?
According to Football League World, the Black Cats are one of a number of teams eyeing up a swoop for the Northampton attacker at the start of 2023.
The report claims that Middlesbrough are another Championship club taking a look at him, whilst Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday, and Barnsley are among the League One outfits vying for his signature.
However, it is not stated how open Northampton are to cashing in on him or how much it would cost to pry him away from the fourth-tier side.
Patrick Roberts upgrade
Kristjaan Speakman brought in Patrick Roberts to bolster the club’s attacking options last season and the Englishman has been a classy operator out wide with his silky ability on the ball.
Should Sunderland sign Sam Hoskins?
However, his end product has left a lot to be desired at times throughout 2022. In League One last term, he scored two goals and provided one assist in 17 matches and he has matched that tally in seven Championship outings so far this season for the Black Cats.
The winger, who can also play as an attacking midfielder, has created one chance per game across his Sunderland career at league level, and Speakman could bring in Hoskins as a potential upgrade in the final third.
In League Two this season, the 29-year-old has racked up a phenomenal 11 goals and one assist in ten matches for the Cobblers, averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.81 – higher than any Black Cats player has managed in the Championship.
Journalist Josh Bunting claimed that he is scoring “all sorts of goals” and his record indicates that he is playing below his level, as he is finding it far too easy to find the net in the fourth tier.
The attacker, who can play on either flank, up front, or in a number 10 role, also caught the eye in 2021/22 as he averaged a score of 7.25 across 46 appearances – bagging 13 times and assisting nine, whilst creating 1.7 chances per match.
It would be a gamble by Sunderland to bring him in as it is a big step up from League Two to the Championship but it is a high-risk high-reward transfer.
If he can translate his current form into the second tier then he would be a fantastic signing and would add a huge goal threat to Tony Mowbray’s team, which is something Roberts has been unable to do.
