Sunderland set to pip Hull City to transfer target

Sunderland look set to beat Hull City to the signing of Leeds United youngster Robbie Gotts, according to The Northern Echo.

The 20-year-old has also been a target for Swindon Town and Huddersfield Town but is expected to complete a temporary move to the Stadium of Light as Phil Parkinson looks to maintain their sold start out he League One season.

Journalist Alan Nixon had suggested that Hull were front-runners in the hunt, for Gotts, who has featured in 39 matchday squads for the Whites since December 2018 but has played just twice for his first-team. It is believed Leeds would like him to add to his senior experience though and are looking to send him to a club that will guarantee playing time, making League One more attractive than the Championship.

Gotts is a versatile young player who can operate across the midfield, or as a wingback, making him a good fit for Sunderland’s 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 formations recently seen against Charlton and Oxford. He would also work well in the 3-4-3 that got an outing in ties with Peterborough and Bristol Rovers, offering a degree of flexibility around Parkinson’s ever-changing approaches.

The Black Cats are unlikely to get a deal done ahead of tonight’s fixture in the EFL trophy, they host Carlisle United looking to secure a place in the second round after the 8-1 thrashing of Aston Villa last month.

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Gotts is a player who may well have featured for Leeds, had they not been promoted to the Premier League, but if he has Championship potential then he is best suited getting regular football in League One.

Sunderland’s appeal is certainly two-fold; they’re a much bigger club than any of those in the hunt and will help give Gotts a good experience behind the scenes; the Academy of Light is one of the best training grounds in the third-tier and will be the sort of facility he is used to at Leeds. 

Couple that with first-team football and the youngster will hopefully get the experience he needs to kick on at Elland Road, whilst Sunderland benefit from seeing an exciting young player in and around their first team.