Sunderland were very much interested in bringing Ellis Simms back to the club following his loan from Everton but the striker ended up joining Coventry City for a total package of around £8million. Photo: George Wood
The Black Cats’ record on transfers has steadily improved since Kryil Louis-Dreyfus’ arrival at Sunderland with the Black Cats now employing a sporting director (Kristjaan Speakman) and a head of recruitment (Stuart Harvey).
Sunderland have managed to bring the likes of Patrick Roberts, Dan Ballard, Jack Clark and Pierre Ekwah to the club in recent seasons… but what about the transfer targets that got away
Sunderland have been linked with a host of players in recent windows – but how many are still playing in the Championship?
Robbie Keane was brought in by Sam Allardyce for the last four 22-23 Premier League games at Leeds United – but after failure to keep us up, he made the surprise move to Israel to manage Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Keane was brought back to Elland Road along with Karl Robinson, under Allardyce. Tasked with keeping Leeds in the Premier League, the Whites faced Manchester City, Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham.
One point, from a possible 12. But there is no doubt that the mood improved with Keane and co. back at Elland Road. Not many could have predicted Keane’s next move, joining Israeli giants Maccabi Tel Aviv.
A team that finished in third place last season. But Keane has seemingly taken this side to a new level this term. He has got them through tough Europa Conference League qualifying, to the group stages.
Indeed, his side’s first group game – a 3-2 win over Icelandic side Briedablik. In the league, Maccabi already sit top of the Israeli Premier League – 10 points from four. 13 in total, 10 wins, three draws.
Robbie Keane shining as Maccabi Tel Aviv boss after Leeds exit
Fairplay to Keane. His only previous managerial role was back in India, in 2018. He has since embarked on numerous coaching roles, perhaps learning the tools he felt he needed to then join Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Whatever he has done, it is clearly working. What a start, and it is not as if he has joined a side that were all-conquering last season. A side that struggled to keep up. A return to Europe perhaps, forthcoming.
