Three Championship hidden gems Sunderland could target this summer | OneFootball

Sunderland have reached 40 points with nine Premier League games to spare, so focus is already turning to summer recruitment and potential value in the Championship.

According to Sunderland Echo, the Black Cats could assess three second-tier options offering potential value. Richard Kone, Kristi Montgomery and Zan Vipotnik stand out.

Richard Kone’s rise has been rapid, from non-league Athletic Newham in December 2023 to QPR, where the 22-year-old has seven goals and two assists in 34 Championship games plus an FA Cup strike against West Ham. He debuted for Ivory Coast in November against Oman and, while he might need another year, his pace and channel runs look ideal for Regis Le Bris.

An ankle injury interrupted Kristi Montgomery’s season, yet the 21-year-old Scotland youth midfielder has impressed for Blackburn. He is third at Ewood Park for tackles per 90 in the Championship with 3.76, averages 8.11 duels won at 56.9 percent, and completes 30.26 passes per 90 at 74.27 percent. A natural defensive screen, he could be a low-cost understudy to the ageing but still very effective Granit Xhaka.

Zan Vipotnik joined Swansea in 2024 after a mutual exit from Bordeaux amid their financial collapse. He scored seven in 42 during a tough first season as Swansea finished 11th, but has 17 in 35 this term to lead the Championship scoring, ahead of Haji Wright on 16 and Joe Gelhardt on 13, and he has two more in the EFL Cup, one against Nottingham Forest. With a striker likely Sunderland’s priority number one after Premier League scoring struggles, he could add a clinical edge at a lower cost than alternative targets.

Source: Sunderland Echo