REGIS LE BRIS has confirmed that Aaron Connolly is likely to leave Sunderland this month and is confident the arrival of at least one new forward will help maintain the “balance” of the squad.
With Connolly having held discussions over a potential move to Millwall, the Black Cats are set to lose one of their few attacking options, but the Sunderland hierarchy have already made moves of their own to bring in a new striker.
Talks with Leicester City over Tom Cannon are at an advanced stage, with the Foxes having recalled the 22-year-old from a season-long loan at Stoke City in order to sell him on this month.
Sunderland are understood to have initially proposed a season-long loan with a view to a permanent transfer worth around £13m in the summer if the club are promoted, although the Black Cats are also willing to consider a full-time deal now. However, Sheffield United are also pushing hard to sign Cannon, having reportedly expressed a willingness to match Sunderland’s offer, while Everton have also been linked with a possible move for a player who started his career in the Goodison Park academy.
Le Bris did not want to discuss the specifics of the Black Cats’ ongoing transfer discussions at his press conference ahead of Friday night’s trip to Burnley, but he acknowledged the importance of ensuring the squad is stronger come the end of the month, particularly in the final third, and admitted that if Connolly does leave, someone else will have to come in.
“It is very important that we make a balanced decision. We really appreciated the connection with Aaron because we were clear from the beginning and, even if he was sometimes frustrated, we respected each other.
“We had to find the right journey for both sides, but at the minute, it could be that it is time for another story for him. But if we make that decision, we have to be very comfortable with it in terms of the interests of the team and the project here.
“We have two weeks to finish this transfer window, and at the end, it is very important that we will be balanced. That will be a big part of our thinking with everything we do.”
Cannon’s situation is expected to be resolved in the next few days, with Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy having admitted that the forward does not have a role in his own future plans.
Cannon scored 11 goals in 25 appearances for Stoke in the first half of the season, but when asked to comment on Sunderland’s interest in the former Everton trainee, Le Bris added: “I like good players. It’s interesting to watch the good players in the league, but I can’t say anything more because it’s so unpredictable, and so difficult to find the good connection with what we are doing here and someone who can fit with what we expect.
“Speculation is speculation and I can’t comment on anything on that. Just that I like good players, we like good players.”
Connolly’s time on Wearside definitely appears to be over though, despite the Irishman having signed a deal to the end of the season when he initially joined as a free agent in the autumn.
“It’s a question of pathway,” he said. “You have your own and the connection with the journey of the club. This transfer window is an opportunity for us all to decide whether we continue together or if we have to choose another option.
“For example, for Aaron, it was clear from the beginning that he wanted to play but he couldn’t build momentum because he was behind Wilson (Isidor) and Eli (Mayenda). We can understand the situation and if we can find a solution that is positive for both sides, then we can move forward.”
