Sunderland Eye Summer Swoop For This Former Aston Villa Star: Why The Black Cats Should Snap Him Up | OneFootball

If a recent report from TuttoMercatoWeb is believed to be true, Sunderland are among a host of clubs to keep close tabs on Nicolo Zaniolo. Despite being back at Galatasaray for pre-season after failed loan stints with Atalanta and Fiorentina, the Italian attacking ace has many other suitors across Europe, including Villarreal and Oviedo from Spain, and the Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.

The 26-year-old Azzurri international spent his youth years with Genoa and Fiorentina, but was released by the latter. Serie B outfit Virtus Entella roped him in the summer of 2016 and handed him his first senior minutes in the second tier of Italian football. He was snapped up by Inter Milan a year later before completing a €4.5m move to AS Roma in June 2018.

A Career Troubled By Early Injuries

Zaniolo was exquisite during his early years in Rome, but he never recovered from back-to-back long injury layoffs. Galatasaray tied him down for €15 in February 2023 and helped the Turkish giants conquer the Super Lig crown by netting five times in 10 outings. Aston Villa loaned him in for the 2023-24 season, even though it turned out to be futile, with just 2 league goals in 25 appearances. His fitness woes refrained the Lions from making the move permanent last year.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Malo Gusto of Chelsea battles for possession with Nicolo Zaniolo of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on September 24, 2023, in London, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)

Yet his Premier League experience could play a part in the Black Cats’ battle for survival upon their top-flight return. Although they lost their promotion heroes Jobe Bellingham and Tom Watson, Regis Le Bris has been heavily backed by the board with more than £100m expenditure already on seven first-team signings. They are closing in on Granit Xhaka to control the midfield game; however, Zaniolo could be brought in after Armand Laurienté’s failed £17.5m move from Sassuolo.

Why Sunderland Should Consider An Offer For The Italian Playmaker

The Italian has a similar profile, having shown his flair and finesse from both flanks. He is also effective as a ‘number 10’, and therefore, could slot in perfectly if Le Bris switches to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Moreover, his adaptability as a second striker would allow the gaffer to stick to his preferred 4-4-2 set-up.

Sunderland have exciting young prospects in Romaine Mundle and Eliezer Mayenda, who impressed last season in and around the attacking third. They have further bolstered the frontline by recruiting Simon Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi, with the latter expected to challenge and cover Patrick Roberts on the right.

Zaniolo is hailed for his pace, physicality, dribbling, technicality, creativity and a high work ethic. He has also been deployed in various midfield roles, and the versatility he offers could see him become an asset at the Stadium of Light if a transfer takes place in due course.