Sunderland midfielder Pierre Ekwah has been the focus of attention of a number of Premier League clubs ahead of the January transfer window, according to reports.
The Frenchman, who is a product of Chelsea’s esteemed Cobham academy, moved to the Stadium of Light during the previous winter window and quickly became a regular in the Black Cats’ first-team.
In his debut half-season with Sunderland under Tony Mowbray, the 21-year-old made 18 appearances as the Northeast club made a late push for promotion to the top-flight, missing out in the playoff semi-final against Luton Town.
This time around, Ekwah has made 16 appearances for the Black Cats, including 14 in the Championship, and has become a mainstay in the team, chipping in with two goals as well to help alleviate the side’s goalscoring woes up top.
His excellent form has piqued the interest of the likes of Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, according to TeamTalk, with Sunderland set to face a struggle to keep hold of the talented midfielder over the coming weeks.
Having put pen to paper on a four-year deal back in January, Ekwah is said to be on merely £3k per week, while Football Transfers have placed the youngster’s market value at between £2.1-3.5 million, although given the length of his contract, Sunderland could demand much more for his services.
Former head coach Mowbray once called Ekwah “amazing” for his performances in the team and now Sunderland could be set to lose his services should a respectable offer be placed on the table.
Writer’s View
This would be a big blow for the Black Cats should the board accept an offer for Ekwah during the winter window. However, if the club truly want to return to the Premier League, keeping players like Ekwah is of paramount importance.
Nevertheless, if these reports are true, it will be interesting to see whether or not the midfielder would even want to leave the Stadium of Light, although sides in the top flight can certainly offer him a lot more in wages than Sunderland currently are.
Deputy Head of Writing
