Millwall keen to strike Sunderland deal - Bristol City, QPR & West Brom should also make moves ASAP | OneFootball

Millwall have been linked with a move for Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson this January

Millwall are looking to strengthen its goalkeeping department this January with the addition of out-of-favour Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson after Steven Benda was recalled from his loan from Fulham.

The Lions, as per Alan Nixon, are interested in bringing Patterson to The Den this January in a bid to bolster the Lions' goalkeeping area, with not only Benda heading back to Craven Cottage, but with Lukas Jensen also suffering a major setback recently from his long-term achilles issue.

Patterson was Sunderland's number one last season in the Championship, as the Black Cats made their way to Wembley under Regis Le Bris and defeated Sheffield United in the play-off final.

In fact, Patterson has been the main man in goal at The Stadium of Light in each of the last three seasons before this one, having been handed his chance in the 2021-22 season by current Millwall boss Alex Neil, but following Sunderland's promotion to the top flight, Robin Roefs was signed from Dutch side NEC Nijmegen to be the club's new number one.

Roefs has excelled in the Premier League this season, reducing Patterson to the bench, and alongside the likes of Denis Cirkin, Dan Neil, and Luke O'Nien, has seen his game time plummet.

A January move could be on the cards for the 25-year-old, who will be desperate for more game time sooner rather than later, and FLW has identified three clubs that could challenge Millwall for his signature this winter.

Bristol City

Bristol City once again find themselves within play-off contention this campaign, though an injury to on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek in December has caused issues in the goalkeeping department.

Vitek, who could return this weekend against Oxford United, has been covered by Max O'Leary in his absence, and although the Irishman has done a respectable job, he is not seen as the club's number one at the moment.

In fact, O'Leary has been linked with a move away from the club, with the likes of Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn Rovers and Derby County all said to be interested in the 29-year-old.

Should O'Leary leave, it would leave a vacancy in the goalkeeping department, and whilst Vitek is also on loan, a move for Patterson could be a good option to have two strong goalkeepers battling.

Whether the Robins would be willing to use a loan spot on another goalkeeper and give Vitek strong competition remains to be seen, but Patterson has proven he has what it takes to lead a team to promotion, and could be a huge difference maker at Ashton Gate.

Queens Park Rangers

QPR appear to be in the market for a new goalkeeper this winter, with neither Paul Nardi, nor the more experienced Ben Hamer being able to nail down the starting berth in goal as their own this campaign.

Murphy Cooper has been recalled from his loan spell with Barnsley, but as exclusively revealed by Football League World, Sheffield Wednesday are in talks to sign him as they seek a short-term Pierce Charles solution.

As previously mentioned, the R's are one of the clubs interested in signing Bristol City's O'Leary this January, clearly indicating that they are in the market for a new man between the sticks.

Patterson has proven to be a safe pair of hands at second tier level, and could prove to be exactly what QPR need in goal to propel them into real top-six contenders this campaign, and should push Millwall for the 25-year-old's signature.

West Brom

It hasn't been the season West Brom would have been hoping for, but with the halfway point having only just been reached, there is still more than enough time to turn things around at The Hawthorns.

Ryan Mason was dismissed from his post in the Baggies' dugout and has swiftly been replaced by former Minnesota United boss Eric Ramsay, who will undertake his first job in management in his native England, having been a coach at Man United previously.

One of the defining decisions in Mason's tenure was the decision to drop Josh Griffiths for Joe Wildsmith after a poor performance at home against Swansea City, despite Albion winning that match.

Griffiths has failed to nail down the number one spot as his own at West Brom, and at 24, is looking increasingly unlikely to do so, and with Wildsmith not getting any younger either, a new stopper must be considered.

Patterson would be an excellent short-term option at The Hawthorns, having ample Championship experience with Sunderland and a proven goalkeeper at this level.

Where new boss Ramsay will target reinforcements this January remains to be seen, but a goalkeeper must have crossed his mind, and they shouldn't allow Millwall to have free rein over his capture this winter.