With the January transfer window looming, rumours of incoming players have already begun to surface. One of the players being linked with a move to the Stadium of Light is Liam Kelly, who currently plays with Feyenoord. The midfielder’s current estimated worth is around £540,000 (transfermarkt.co.uk).
But who is Liam Kelly, and what can he offer this struggling Sunderland side? And could this move be beneficial to both parties involved?
TIF Tactics – Why are Sunderland going after Liam Kelly?
After making his move to the Netherlands in July 2019, Kelly has only played one game in the Eredivisie. He has featured in other competitions but has only managed to string together 650 minutes of football this season. The year before, when playing for Reading, the midfielder made 22 appearances for the club, 20 of which were in the Championship. He played a total of 1592 minutes of football. The year before that, he played 39 games for the club, 34 of which were in the Championship (transfermarkt.co.uk).
It is evident that over the last few seasons Kelly has fallen from graces. His free transfer to Feyenoord has been a failure. He now has an opportunity to come to a struggling team and fight for his place. Sunderland could use a player who is determined to prove his worth. A fighting underdog could be exactly what they need.
Would you like to see Liam Kelly join Sunderland?
Yes
No
The team is also crying out for a player who has the ability to play at a high level. Although he hasn’t made many appearances for Feyenoord, the competitions they play in are arguably a much higher standard than that of League One. And for a direct comparison to English competition, Kelly has played in 84 Championship games over the last three seasons. He is a player with experience in a league that Sunderland are trying to get back into. Should he help them escape League One, he will be more than capable of making the transition to England’s second tier of football.
With that being said, before the club can start planning for Championship football, they must focus on getting out of League One. While the player has fallen from graces and is out of form, there is still a good chance he could come in and make an instant impact at the club. If he does, it could be a huge boost to the Black Cats.