On-loan Sunderland striker Nathan Broadhead has made a decent impression on Wearside since making the move from Everton for the season, and he could see his move become permanent, with the Toffees reportedly open to selling the 23-year-old this summer in order to raise funds.
What’s the story?
According to Liverpool World, the Welshman could depart Goodison Park this summer, with only one year left on his Everton contract.
The 23-year-old has made just two first-team appearances for the Merseyside outfit, having had a decent tenure for the under-23s along with loan spells at Burton Albion and now Sunderland.
It is at Sunderland where Broadhead has impressed most, scoring seven goals in 17 appearances, but a recurring hamstring injury has held the Welshman back during the second half of the campaign.
The striker has made just one league appearance since mid-December, with his absence having a major impact on the Black Cats’ results. Out of the 16 league games that the 23-year-old has missed since 18 December, the Wearsiders have won just six, with Alex Neil replacing Lee Johnson in the dugout during that period.
Sunderland must sign Broadhead permanently
The Black Cats are currently seventh in League One, with automatic promotion now looking highly unlikely. Indeed, the Wearside outfit will need to get back into the play-off places, having seen Sheffield Wednesday leapfrog them into that all-important sixth position over the weekend.
Although the season hasn’t gone the way he would’ve wanted, Broadhead had made a strong impression in the first half of the campaign, with his goal away to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup a clear highlight.
If Neil can lead Sunderland to promotion to the Championship, perhaps other centre-forward targets will be approached. However, if the Black Cats are to once again be a third-tier club next term, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t make an attempt to sign the on-loan 23-year-old permanently.
Valued at £450k by Transfermarkt, the Welshman will almost certainly leave Goodison Park for a higher figure, but the fee may still be a cut-price one given that Broadhead has just one year remaining on his contract at his parent club.
Having seen Jermain Defoe retire this week, Sunderland are suddenly lighter on options in the final third, with Ross Stewart the main contributor up front with 22 goals this term.
Neil will be desperate to have the 23-year-old striker back available and, should he play before the end of the season, Broadhead could make the definitive impression which sees his loan move made permanent in the summer. In turn, he could finally fire the Black Cats out of League One.
In other news – Forget Defoe: Alex Neil must now unleash “smashing” Sunderland beast, they need him
