Sunderland could give Clarke new role by signing “magic” Dack replacement

This “magic” £9m-rated gem could be the answer to Sunderland’s goalscoring woes.

Boxing Day saw Sunderland overcome Hull City at the MKM Stadium to move up to the final playoff spot, all the while trying to forget about last Saturday’s crushing 3-0 loss to Coventry City at home, which was Michael Beale’s first game in the dugout.

 

Jack Clarke, who has been a constant hero this season, scored the game’s lone goal to secure all three points for his team and now has 11 goals in the Championship.

This season, the 23-year-old has carried the most goal-scoring load for the Black Cats; however, Beale may ease Clarke’s load by bringing in one previous player in January.

Sunderland transfer news – Amad Diallo

Football Insider revealed over the Christmas break that Amad Diallo, who hasn’t played a minute for the Red Devils

this season, could be allowed to return on loan to another team in January.

According to reports, Sunderland is eager to sign the Ivorian attacker again

following his excellent campaign in England’s second division last year.

Diallo suffered a devastating knee injury during the English giants’ preseason, which has kept him out of action for the

most of the year. Consequently, this season, the £9 million-rated forward has

not made an appearance for head coach Erik ten Hag in a competitive match;

nevertheless, he has just started training again.

The Atalanta young product was reportedly eager to fight for his spot at

Old Trafford, but it now appears that he may not have that choice, and a return to

the Stadium of Light would be just what’s needed for everyone.

Amad Diallo’s stats – 2022/23

Diallo joined Sunderland at the beginning of the previous campaign on a season-long loan spell and quickly became a hero on Wearside. The Ivory Coast international ended the season as Sunderland’s top goalscorer in all competitions with 14 goals as Tony Mowbray’s side made an unprecedented finish inside the playoff places, unfortunately losing to Luton Town in the semi-finals. Mowbray even described Diallo as “magic” as the loanee finished joint-eight in the league’s scoring charts.

Championship Top Goalscorer Charts – 2022/23
Player	Goals	Expected Goals
Chuba Akpom	28	21.9
Viktor Gyokeres	21	19.5
Carlton Morris	20	15
Joel Piroe	19	18.5
Tom Bradshaw	17	13.9
Nathan Tella	17	10.3
Zian Flemming	15	9.6
Ben Brereton Diaz	14	11.9
Iliman Ndiaye	14	12.8
Jerry Yates	14	11.2
Amad Diallo	13	8.1
Stats via FBref

Still, this season’s Sunderland is much more dependent on one man than it was

in the previous one, which is a difference between the two campaigns. This season,

the Black Cats have scored 33 goals in the Championship. Only 11 teams have

scored less goals this time around, though. Furthermore, Jack Clarke has

scored 33.3% of the team’s goals in the league thus far this year.

Three Sunderland players—Diallo, Ross Stewart, and Clarke—scored 10 or more

goals in all competitions during the 2022–2023 season. Ellis Simms was not

far behind with seven. Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham now share the position of the

team’s second-highest goalscorer with four goals apiece.

Beale’s biggest task is to address the team’s weakness at the top. The manager will need to get inventive up top because

none of the players who have alternated the number “9” position during the

season—Nazariy Rusyn, Hemir Semedo, Mason Burstow, Jewison Bennette, and

Eliezer Mayenda—have been able to convert even one opportunity.

 

Bradley Dack was sent up top by Beale on Boxing Day, but the former Blackburn

Rovers player had little effect at all. He only managed one shot, with an xG of

0.07, before being substituted in the 44th minute due to an injury. The 29-year-

old’s performance earned him a 6/10 match rating from Chronicle Live.

Nevertheless, with a potential arrival of Diallo, Beale could try Clarke up front given how potent he has been for Sunderland this term. The former Tottenham Hotspur man has only started four times up front and has a decent record when leading the line.

To lessen the impact of the Englishman on the wings, the new manager may also position Diallo out on the wing in Clarke’s place. With Diallo in the mix, Sunderland will have much greater balance in the forward line and won’t be as dependent on goals from Clarke, even though they may lose some aerial danger.