Sunderland look to have the rough end of multi-million pound transfer agreement with Leeds United: View | OneFootball

It has been a disappointing few months for Sunderland in the Championship.

The Black Cats made the controversial decision to sack Tony Mowbray in December, despite sitting just outside the play-off places, replacing him with Michael Beale, and it is fair to say the move did not work out.

Beale was an unpopular appointment among Sunderland supporters, and he was dismissed last month after winning just four of his 12 games in charge.

Mike Dodds, who enjoyed a strong caretaker spell after Mowbray's departure, has been appointed as interim head coach until the end of the season, but the 37-year-old has failed to make a similar impact this time around, with the Black Cats picking up just one point from five games under his guidance so far.

Sunderland currently sit 12th in the Championship table, 13 points from the play-off places and nine points clear of the relegation zone, and they are back in action when they make the trip to face Cardiff City in South Wales on Good Friday.

The Black Cats' season has not been helped by an underwhelming January transfer window, with three new players, Leo Hjelde, Romaine Mundle and Callum Styles, arriving at the Stadium of Light, and the inability to bring in a senior striker caused plenty of frustration for supporters.

Hjelde, Mundle and Styles have all found it tough during the early stages of their time on Wearside, but given the sizeable transfer fee the club paid for him, the biggest question marks are over the signing of Hjelde.

Sunderland may be regretting Leo Hjelde transfer deal

Hjelde endured a difficult spell at Leeds after his move from Celtic in August 2021 for a fee in excess of £1 million, making just eight senior appearances for the Whites in three-and-a-half years.

After spending the second half of last season on loan at Rotherham United, Hjelde started for Leeds on the opening day of the campaign against Cardiff, but he was substituted at half time, and that would prove to be his final league appearance for Daniel Farke's side, with just two further outings in the EFL Cup.

Given Hjedle's lack of game time at Elland Road, eyebrows were raised when Sunderland paid a reported fee of £2 million to land the 20-year-old in January.

Hjelde has started every game for the Black Cats since arriving at the club, featuring at both centre-back and left-back, but he has struggled to impress supporters so far.

Sunderland have won just one of the nine games that Hjelde has featured in, drawing two and losing six, and they have conceded 13 goals during that time.

Of course, it is unfair to blame Hjelde entirely for the Black Cats' problems, and it has been a tough time for him to come into the team with the club sliding down the table.

But supporters have questioned whether Hjelde should keep his place in the side, and it is uncertain whether the defender would be a starter when Sunderland have a fully fit squad.

Luke O'Nien is available after suspension for the trip to Cardiff on Friday, which could see Hjelde drop to the bench, while Niall Huggins, Dennis Cirkin and Aji Alese will add further competition for places when they return from injury.

The Black Cats have adopted a policy of signing young players in recent years, and with Hjelde having put pen-to-paper on a four-and-a-half year contract, they are likely to be patient with him.

Despite the turbulence he has experienced at the Stadium of Light so far, Hjelde insisted last month that his time at the club has been "very enjoyable", and he believes there is more to come from him and his team-mates.