Lewis Grabban’s departure has set “a red light flashing” according to Chris Coleman, but his quest for a new goalscorer has been made more difficult by Barcelona.
On Friday, Bournemouth recalled Grabban from his season-long loan. Grabban scored 12 goals for the bottom-of-the-Championship team, and the starting XI for Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Middlesbrough had just seven between them this season.
And while defender Jake Clarke-Salter’s half-season loan from Chelsea is finally expected to be confirmed on Monday, Coleman’s top attacking target Ben Woodburn has been made harder to acquire after Philippe Coutinho joined Barcelona for £142m.
Liverpool may choose to keep 18-year-old Wales international Woodburn unless or until they can buy a replacement.
“Once we found out that (Grabban’s) clause could be exercised, we’ve been working on a replacement or replacements,” confirmed Coleman. “Now it’s actually happened, there’s a red light flashing, so that’s something we’ve got to do.”
Woodburn, who can play wide or as a striker, has made one Premier League start and his only Liverpool goal came in the League Cup against Leeds United in November 2016. But Coleman handed him his international debut against Austria in September, when he came off the bench to score the World Cup qualifier’s only goal. His first start came in Coleman’s final game, at home to Panama.
Sunderland’s task will be easier if they can sell the likes of Didier Ndong or Lamine Kone this month. The only money Coleman will have for transfer fees will be a percentage of what he recoups.
“The selling is probably harder, because it’s up to another club to say, ‘We want him and that’s what we’ll pay,’” Coleman said on Saturday. “As of today we have no bids in for any of our players.”
Even on Thursday afternoon the Black Cats were hoping Clarke-Salter would be available at the Riverside. Instead the England Under-20 World Cup-winning defender was an unused substitute as Chelsea drew 0-0 at Norwich City. His only Chelsea appearances have come as a substitute in the Premier League in April 2016, and this season’s League Cup tie with Nottingham Forest. He played 13 times on loan at Bristol Rovers last term.
Clarke-Salter is a left-footed centre-back. With Marc Wilson needed in midfield, Tyias Browning looked ill at ease on the left of Saturday’s back three, though that probably had more to do with Adama Traore’s pace and skill.
Coleman stressed once more the importance of the January window as he looks to inject belief into his inconsistent side.
“We’re not getting walloped each week and then when we win, we think, ‘This is it,’” he admitted. “We must start putting runs together, back-to-back wins to make the table look better and it gives you confidence, but we haven’t done that all season. There’s a lack of belief and key areas where we must improve with a little bit of help from outside.
“If we don’t get what we want it won’t be for the want of trying. The thing is, some players we’re looking at there’s a host of other clubs looking, too.
“We’re not financially strong but players who come to us are going to get a lot of football, players who are a bit younger looking for experience they can go to a club at the top of the league and get 50 percent or come to us and get 70-80 percent, and that experience is valuable.”
Coleman said he only wants those ready for the “dogfight”.
“I’m probably a bit naive, I think, ‘Come on, come and play for Sunderland Football Club,’” he said. “You’re going to play in a magnificent home stadium in a real tough atmosphere because we can’t get over the line with wins and that’s a test for you. We’re in a relegation dogfight and all that experience, it’s great experience that.”