Sunderland AFC fired long-term transfer warning over Celtic deal despite potential for "massive boost" | OneFootball

FLW's Sunderland fan pundit discussed his club's reported interest in Celtic winger Luis Palma

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sunderland are facing competition from the likes of Swansea City and QPR for reported transfer target Luis Palma, and they have been told to only secure a loan agreement amid concerns about how the Celtic winger would fare in the Premier League, with top-flight football a firm possibility at the Stadium of Light next time out.

The Black Cats are seemingly in the market for a winger this month after completing an ambitious deal for Roma midfielder Enzo Le Fee, who has joined on loan until the end of the campaign with a mandatory purchase clause for Regis Le Bris' side in the event of promotion to the Premier League.

A return to English football's top-tier for the first time in eight years is certainly on the cards for Sunderland, who are third in the Championship at this moment in time amid an unprecedented automatic promotion push under Le Bris this term.

To realise that ambition, however, the Frenchman may need to bring an additional winger into his squad, which is starved of wide options at the minute as Sunderland battle an unfortunate injury crisis.

Romaine Mundle and Tommy Watson, who are Sunderland's two left-sided wing options, both remain sidelined with long-term injuries and the Black Cats are clearly intent on bolstering that area of the pitch, having been linked to the likes of Tyler Goodrham and Louie Barry.

Sunderland's transfer interest in Celtic's Luis Palma amid Swansea, QPR competition

According to a fresh report from Football Insider, Sunderland are among the clubs interested in striking a January deal for Palma, who has been out-of-favour at Celtic this season ahead of a potential Parkhead exit.

The Honduran international winger is said to be eager to complete a switch away from the club in search of frequent first-team football and has no shortage of suitors, with Championship trio Swansea, QPR and Stoke also reportedly keen on his services along with several undisclosed European clubs.

Palma joined Celtic from Greek side Aris Thessaloniki in the summer of 2023 and made 36 appearances in his first season, scoring 10 goals and making a further 10 assists across all competitions.

However, the 25-year-old has fallen down Brendan Rodgers' pecking order this time around and has started just one league match all season, tallying up 11 appearances in total without a goal or an assist yet on his stat-line.

Sunderland told to avoid permanent transfer deal for Celtic's Luis Palma amid Premier League concern

FLW asked our Black Cats fan pundit, Jordan Newcombe, whether he believes Palma would represent a strong acquisition on loan with an option or clause to buy - akin to Le Fee, of course.

Jordan would welcome the arrival of Palma on loan amid Sunderland's wide injury crisis but has reservations involving a potential permanent deal due to his doubts over whether the attacker could step up to the Premier League, where they will hope to be playing later this year.

"I don't know much about him personally, but he is a winger which could be a massive boost as we don't have that many wingers available," Jordan told FLW.

"With 20 goal contributions last season, it could be a vital one (signing). I'd go in and get him on a loan deal and then buy him if he does well because it's a player like him we may end up needing later down the line if we don't go up.

"If we do go up via the automatics or play-offs, I would say not to go for him as we can use the funds for next season and potentially get better players, especially in the Premier League, because if we do not rebuild for next season in certain positions it will be a case of coming straight back down.

"That's something we don't want. We've spent enough time down here and in League One, we don't need to come down from the Premier League after just one season.

"I'd get him in on loan and see how he gets on. If we don't go up, 100 percent go and buy him if he does well, because that's another winger option in case we decide to let go of Roberts or if the inevitable happens and all of our wingers are injured, which again we don't want.

"Get him in on loan, see how he plays. If we don't go up, then buy him. If we do go up, I'd personally leave him because I don't think he will be hitting that standard of Premier League experience or quality.

"100 percent get a loan deal because, like I said, we don't know what their game style is, and we don't want to risk putting money in for them not to perform well here and that's the one thing we tend to do.

"I'm going to say get him on a loan and leave it at that until we find out the fate of promotion."