3 players the Black Cats should have signed this summer

With the summer transfer window now officially over, Read Sunderland use the wonderful tool of hindsight to look at three players who the Black Cats should have tried to sign.

Charlie Austin

Although the QPR man had a hefty £15-million price tag this summer, the striker would certainly have added a goal threat to the Sunderland line-up. The Englishman scored an impressive 18 goals for the R’s last season despite the club finishing in the relegation zone.

However, question marks as to where he would have fit into Advocaat’s 4-3-3 system would have been raised. Austin can only play through the middle and with Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher on big wages and playing a similar role, a move for Austin would have meant the Black Cats moving on one of the two. Sunderland would of had to contend with half the league for his signature with the likes of Newcastle and Tottenham expressing an interest this summer.

Andros Townsend

The Tottenham winger has struggled for first-team football over the past 6 months and as a consequence has lost his place in the England set-up. Townsend would have been open to leaving White Hart Lane this summer with a host of clubs such as West Brom and Aston Villa expressing an interest in the £15-million rate winger.

Townsend would offer Sunderland some direct natural wing play and would be a better alternative to the struggling Adam Johnson who will struggle to regain his spot when he returns from injury in the coming weeks. Again, Spurs’ valuation of the player is a bit excessive and probably out of Sunderland’s budget, but if the Black Cats’ owner had matched the ambition of their manager and fans this summer, Townsend and Austin for £30-million would have been very good business for two bright and young Englishmen.

Ashley Cole

A few may be surprised with the suggestion but Ashley Cole, the left-back with 107 England caps to his name was (and still may be) available on a free transfer from Roma after being deemed surplus to requirements this season. Cole has been left out of the Italian giants’ squad for the league and champions league and that has left Cole considering terminating his contract in Italy.

Should that occur, then Sunderland would still be able to sign Cole on a free transfer as a free agent despite the transfer window closing earlier this week. The former Arsenal and Chelsea man would offer Sunderland some experience on the left side of defence and would give Patrick Van Aanholt some incentive to up his below par performances so far. Yes Cole’s wages would be very high, however, that hasn’t stopped Sunderland in the past with the likes of Jermain Defoe, Steven Fletcher and Fabio Borini on big wages at the Stadium of Light.