According to Sports Digitale writer Ertan Suzgun, Sunderland has received an official approach from Turkish team Sivasspor for midfield player Alex Pritchard.
As of right now, Sunderland is tied for seventh place in the Championship with Coventry City, who is ranked sixth. Between now and the end of the season, they’ll be trying to hold onto their momentum and stay up among the top six.
To accomplish this, they can try to bolster their team during the January transfer window. After taking over last month, Michael Beale will probably want to shape the team in his image, which raises the prospect of player sales.
Midfielder Pritchard is one such player who might be shown the way out before the window shuts. Although the 30-year-old has spent the last two and a half years at the Stadium of Light, teams in the Championship and abroad are showing interest in signing him. Journalist Suzgun now claims that Turkish team Sivasspor has submitted the first formal proposal.
Where will he end up?
Pritchard has spent all of his career playing in England. Having started at Tottenham, he has had spells at the likes of Peterborough United, Swindon Town, Brentford, West Brom, Huddersfield Town and now Sunderland. Therefore, it seems likely he would prefer to continue plying his trade in England once more.
Birmingham City seems like more of a likely destination out of the clubs who have reportedly registered an interest. Considering former Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray has now taken over from Wayne Rooney at St Andrew’s, this could be a deal on the cards in the coming weeks.
Yet given his full career has been spent in England, Pritchard could prefer a change of scenery. A move to Sivasspor could present the midfielder with an opportunity to play in Europe if they can break into the division’s top four. Therfore, this could certainly be a factor in him choosing his next club.
