Sunderland appear close to securing a deal to bring Niall Huggins to the Stadium of Light this summer.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a claim made by Pete O’Rourke, with the journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that the Black Cats are in advanced talks with Leeds United regarding a loan deal for the 18-year-old right-back.
In his tweet, O’Rourke said: “Sunderland are in advanced talks to sign Leeds United defender Niall Huggins.”
In a further post, the same journalist then claimed that the Wales U21 international will undergo a medical at the Academy of Light on Thursday ahead of his temporary switch to Wearside.
Johnson will be buzzing
With right-back having been something of a problem area for Lee Johnson since taking over at the club last season, with the 40-year-old currently only having Luke O’Nien as a viable option in the position, the fact that the Black Cats seem close to tying up a deal for Huggins is sure to have left the manager buzzing.
Indeed, Sunderland have been linked with a number of players in the position this summer, none more so than Nottingham Forest defender Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, however, with a deal for the Leeds youngster looking to be all but confirmed by the club, this would appear to end the Black Cats’ interest in the 22-year-old.
And, while Huggins has made just one Premier League appearance for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, the right-back nevertheless impressed over his 18 Premier League 2 appearances for the Leeds U23 side last season, scoring two goals and providing one assist – with club legend Ian Harte stating his belief that the 18-year-old is a “fantastic” talent.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
As such, it would very much seem as if the signing of the £180k-rated Huggins will not only plug a gap for Johnson this season, but also provide the Mackems manager with an incredibly exciting option on the right-hand side of defence.
In other news: KLD handed major transfer boost on “crucial” £720k-rated ace, SAFC fans surely buzzing