As per one of the latest reports by The Daily Star, Championship outfit Sunderland are eyeing Aston Villa’s Ross McCormack and are believed to be very close to luring him to the Stadium of Light this summer on loan. The Black Cats succumbed to the animosity of the Premier League last season, as a result of which they kept withering and fell into the clutches of the relegation zone. They are in need of an attacker, and apparently, McCormack is someone they are pursuing.
When McCormack was introduced at Villa Park last summer, huge expectations were rested on his shoulders. The Scottish international had banged 21 goals for his previous employers Fulham during the 2015-16 Championship season, but he fell out with the Villans’ manager Steve Bruce and was cornered last season. The 30-year-old was shipped out on loan to Nottingham Forest, which of course didn’t materialize in an appealing manner and it goes without saying that he would be keen to put his career back on track.
McCormack emerged through the youth ranks of Rangers and then went on to ply his trade for the senior side of the Scottish outfit. Eventually, he made moves to Motherwell, Cardiff City, Leeds United and Fulham before moving to the ranks of the Claret & Blue Army. Like their arch rivals Newcastle United, Sunderland would look to carve an immediate return to the top flight of English football and no wonder why they are targeting McCormack, who is someone with truckloads of experience of English football under his belt.
A proven striker, McCormack is a clinical finisher who constantly tries to find the back of the net. He passes the ball in a shrewd manner up front, indulges himself into the attacking endeavours of his side and his positional sense is simply exemplary. Besides, he is an excellent set-piece taker as well and his crisp movements on and off the ball, apart from his physicality and perseverance in holding the ball in the final third make him a feisty package for any Championship side.
Simon Grayson undoubtedly has an uphill task ahead of him to not only ensure that the morale of his squad remains in a good state but to also has to chalk shrewd deals which would enable his tactical nous to fall in place once his troops take the pitch. McCormack is certainly at the peak of his career and Grayson would be keen to make him sign on the dotted line and derive maximum dividends out of him this season if the deal materializes.