An update has emerged on Sunderland and their interest in Ellis Simms in the summer transfer window…
What’s the talk?
According to the Scottish Sun, the Black Cats are plotting a swoop to sign the Everton striker as Alex Neil looks to improve his squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
The report claims that fellow Championship teams Millwall and Huddersfield Town are also keen on a deal for the young attacker.
It has been reported, this summer, that the Toffees value him at around £500k as they prepare to let him leave on a permanent basis.
Imagine him & Pritchard
What do all strikers need around them in order to thrive at any level? They need players who are capable of creating chances for them.
In Alex Pritchard, Sunderland have an attacking midfielder with the quality to consistently unlock opposition defences with his passing ability and creativity.
Should Sunderland sign Simms?
The Englishman racked up nine assists in 28 League One starts last season and created nine big chances in total, whilst making 2.0 key passes per match. These statistics show that he has an eye for a pass and can be the player to thread balls through and hit crosses into the strikers in the upcoming Championship campaign.
Now, imagine him delivering chance after chance to Simms at the top end of the pitch next term. The 21-year-old has caught the eye in recent loan spells, after scoring 41 goals in 44 games for the Toffees’ U18 team.
Everton U23s Assistant John Ebbrell previously lauded the young gem, saying: “What I do know with Ellis, if he ends up one-vs-one with the goalkeeper, he’s scoring.
“From experience, I know if you have time to think for that finish it can be difficult but Ellis is really calm and composed in those situations. He very rarely misses.”
After impressing his coach at his parent club, Simms was sent out on loan to Blackpool in League One in 2020/21 and managed 10 goals and one assist in 19 starts. He then went to Hearts on a temporary deal last term and found the back of the net five times in 11 Premiership starts, whilst also providing one assist.
The striker has shown great promise early on in his career and proven that he can score goals at first-team level, with 15 goals and two assists in 30 league starts in his loan spells.
He could thrive off Pritchard’s creativity and make himself a huge goal threat for the Black Cats in the Championship next term if Kristjaan Speakman is able to get a deal over the line in the coming weeks.
AND in other news: Alan Nixon drops big Sunderland transfer claim that’ll leave supporters fuming
