Sunderland could sign “outstanding” PL winner who’s a big O’Nien upgrade..
Sunderland’s defenders really did lead by example all across the Black Cats’ dramatic playoff fixtures.
Without Daniel Ballard, Regis Le Bris’ men might well have crashed out of the lottery of the Championship playoffs at the semi-final stages, but, thankfully, the Northern Ireland international connected with Enzo Le Fee’s corner kick delivery expertly to seal Sunderland’s place at Wembley after beating Coventry City.
Sunderland’s Daniel Ballard celebrates with teammates and fans after the match
At Wembley itself, the defenders had to dig deep once more, with Chris Mepham stepping up to the mark in Luke O’Nien’s injury absence by winning four duels and registering 12 clearances to keep Sheffield United largely at bay.
But, with Mepham now gone, Sunderland could look to add some fresh centre-backs for the testing mission of the Premier League to come, with O’Nien one figure who might well have to drop into the reserves despite being a loyal Wearside servant.
O’Nien’s heroics at Sunderland
This is the cutthroat nature of the beast after all, with those who are deemed dependable in the Championship perhaps not cut out for the gruelling step-up to the Premier League.
O’Nien has only ever tasted EFL football all across his drawn-out career to date, with the ex-Wycombe Wanderers defender’s no-nonsense approach making him a firm fan favourite at the Stadium of Light from day one.
Indeed, as Sunderland shot up the leagues from League One obscurity to the brink of top-flight football, so did the quality of O’Nien’s performances, with the Black Cats veteran now up to 314 appearances for the Wearside giants, on top of collecting 23 goals and 16 assists along the way.
However, the versatile Sunderland mainstay – who can also play in central midfield – isn’t without his limitations, with a stacked list of 52 yellow cards when donning a Black Cat jersey a major concern, especially if a skilful player in the division above brings out this hot-headedness in him.
luke-onien-sunderland
Moreover, his complete lack of experience in the top-flight could also come back to bite Le Bris and Co. Therefore, if a move is soon to be on the table for a Premier League-ready centre-back to join the ever-growing camp, it’s a move that must be pursued.
The “outstanding” PL star who is a big O’Nien upgrade
That isn’t to say O’Nien won’t still play a part in Sunderland attempting to keep their heads above water, with his captain-like bravery a real asset to have around the building.
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But, the Premier League can eat promoted teams whole when it comes to leaky defensive displays creeping in, as seen in previous playoff winners Southampton shipping a league-high total of 86 strikes last season, leading to them finishing rock bottom of the pile.
This is where Liverpool colossus Joe Gomez could come to the rescue, with a recent report by the Guardian speculating that the newly promoted side are locked in an intense race to sign the Reds defender, alongside Newcastle, Aston Villa, Burnley, Leeds United, and various others.
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez
The wide array of names here taking a look at the 28-year-old might well make it a tall order for Sunderland to win his coveted services, but if they were to land the ex-England international’s in-demand signature, they won’t feel as nervous as they do right now about their defensive options jumping into the elite league.
Gomez’s overall PL numbers
Games played
149
Goals conceded
106
Tackles
211
Tackles won
72%
Recoveries
720
Duels won
590
Aerial battles won
253
Passes per match
53.79
Wins
99
Clean sheets
47
Stats from the Premier League
Just one quick glance at Gomez’s “outstanding” top-flight numbers – as he was once labelled by Reds teammate Virgil van Dijk – is enough to know why Sunderland would be immediately put at ease.
Notably, the London-born centre-back has only conceded 106 top-flight goals across his 149 appearances to date.
Much like O’Nien, too, the Liverpool number two can slot into multiple different positions on a pitch if needed, with Gomez potentially offering Le Bris cover in the left-back and right-back positions, alongside also being capable as a defensive midfielder.
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez
With two Premier League titles glistening next to his name as well, snapping up Gomez would definitely show Sunderland mean business when stepping up a division, rather than settling for what they already possess.
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