Sunderland have got to play catch up this summer after unexpectedly losing Sam Allardyce to England. David Moyes has come into the club and returned to the Premier League after his disappointing spell at Manchester United. It is a good fit for the Scotsman and he has a good foundation left by Allardyce to build on. There is still work to be done in the transfer market this summer and they need to press on with recruitment. It is believed that Moyes wants to bring in players he has worked with before, as he trusts them and knows they can do well for him again.
Adnan Januzaj has been heavily linked with the club and it would be an exciting signing if Sunderland can bring the Belgian international to the North East. He is no longer wanted at Manchester United, which has opened up the possibility of reuniting with his former manager. Januzaj played his best football under Moyes and would be keen to work with him again, as his career has stalled over the last couple of years.
At Manchester United, Januzaj was given a prominent role across Moyes’ short tenure, featuring 27 times in the 2013/14 campaign. He scored four goals and contributed three assists in his debut season. During this period, Januzaj emerged as one of the most exciting talents in world football and it was Moyes who brought him to the public eye. He was one of the few players to come out of Moyes’ turbulent reign with credit.
Since then he has gone off the boil and not been given many chances in the Manchester United first team. He has looked poor when he has got into the team and his loan spell to Borussia Dortmund was disastrous. There appears to be an attitude problem compounded by a lack of confidence and it is telling that Jose Mourinho has immediately viewed him as surplus to requirements.
A move to Sunderland would be a good move for his career, as he would gain regular first-team football in the Premier League and link up with a manager who knows him well. There would be less pressure on him to perform and he would be given a more prominent role in the side. At Manchester United, he is a bit part player, but at Sunderland, he would be an important player for the first-team. He looks like he needs a fresh start and Sunderland looks to be a good fit for him to take that next step.
In terms of why it suits Sunderland, Januzaj is still only 21 and has time to develop into the player everybody thought he could be. He would add flair to their front line, and has the ability to create moments of magic in the final third. If Moyes brings him to Sunderland and instils him with confidence, he could be a very dangerous player in the Premier League. Moreover he would be available for a reasonable fee as it is clear he isn’t wanted at Old Trafford. Sunderland can’t compete for the very best players, but they can invest in talented youngsters and develop them, which is what they can do with Januzaj.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the recruitment at Sunderland as they don’t have time on their hands. David Moyes didn’t get the opportunity to plan ahead of time as he didn’t know he would be in this job less than a month ago. He is likely to lean on his knowledge from the past and Januzaj looks to be a great fit. He needs a change and is available as Manchester United no longer want him. Sunderland need new players and Januzaj would bring a lot to their attack.
