Sunderland have just under two days left to finish off the rest of their business in the summer transfer window as the deadline passes at 11pm on Thursday.
They have faced the task of appointing a first team manager too, after Alex Neil opted to leave the club in recent days to join Championship rivals Stoke.
Fortunately, they have moved swiftly to secure his replacement with Tony Mowbray being confirmed as the club’s new boss late on Tuesday evening, penning a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light.
Mowbray has now arrived in time to have a say on who the club should sign in the final 24 hours or so of the transfer window, thus giving them the best chance of enjoying a strong campaign in the Championship.
The former Blackburn boss must now push for Kristjaan Speakman to sign reported target Anthony Scully from Lincoln, as bringing him to Wearside could represent an instant masterclass by the 58-year-old.
Mowbray’s favoured formation is an attacking 4-3-3, and this could result in a change from the 3-4-1-2 which has been in action this term, which would require wide options who can do damage in the final third.
No Sunderland midfielder or winger has scored more than one goal in the Championship this term, while only two of the club’s goals have not been scored by Ross Stewart or Ellis Simms.
Last season, Elliot Embleton (nine) was the only player outside of Stewart and Nathan Broadhead to score more than four League One goals for the Black Cats.
Scully could come in and offer a much-needed goal threat from out wide after he enjoyed an impressive 2021/22 campaign. He played 35 games for Lincoln in the third tier and found the net 11 times, whilst setting up seven goals and creating 11 ‘big chances’ for his team-mates.
Former West Ham academy director Tony Carr previously hailed the Irish gem’s instincts in front of goal, saying: “He’s always had an eye for a goal and he’s always had that little bit extra that you need sometimes in and around the box and can score something different.”
Ex-Lincoln boss Mark Appleton previously stated that you “can’t ignore” the winger’s goals, and at the age of just 23, Scully could come in as a player for the future as well as the here-and-now.
Therefore, with his appointment now done and dusted, Mowbray could land an immediate blinder by making the Lincoln winger his first signing as Sunderland manager.
Scully could improve the team’s goalscoring potential and give the club many years of fine service if he can make the step up to the Championship whilst continuing to develop and hone his skills.
