Sunderland should swoop for ex-Black Cats man if Plymouth Argyle are relegated: View | OneFootball

Sunderland are set for a third season in the Championship next year with their hopes of finishing in a play-off place over.

A 0-0 draw away at Leeds United on Tuesday night confirmed that the Black Cats would be unable to make the top six, with them being 15 points adrift of sixth with four games left to play.

It will come as a disappointment to the Sunderland fans, who were eager for their side to build on their sixth-place finish last season.

Their failure in reaching the play-offs means that it is extremely likely that some of their best young players could leave in the summer, like Jack Clarke, Jobe Bellingham and Anthony Patterson.

Ahead of what will be a summer with a lot of change at the club, including that of a new manager, Sunderland will need to recruit smartly for next season.

One player that they could try and sign is their former academy graduate, Bali Mumba.

Mumba has gone from strength-to-strength after leaving Sunderland

Mumba is predominantly a wing-back and had come through the academy at Sunderland, having played for all the age groups right up to the first team. He made his senior debut for the club on the final day of the 17/18 season, coming on as a substitute for John O’Shea. He subsequently became the club’s youngest captain, after O’Shea handed him the armband whilst coming off.

After failing to break into the first team on a regular basis, he left for Norwich City in July 2020. But again failing to break into the senior team, he went out on loan to Peterborough United for the second half of the 21/22 campaign, making ten Championship appearances as they were relegated.

The 22/23 season he would then spend at his current club, Plymouth Argyle - then on loan from Norwich. His move started off very well, as he won the EFL Young Player of the Month award in September 2022.

In the end, he would score six goals and provide seven assists in 47 games across all competitions as Plymouth reached the final of the EFL Trophy and won League One. His performance would be recognised, as he won the club’s Young Player of the Season and the Players’ Player of the Season, and he also won the League One Young Player of the Season.

He would make his move to Plymouth permanent last summer, signing for a reported club-record fee of £1 million. This season he has been just as important for Argyle, contributing to six goals in 39 league games.

Mumba could be the ideal replacement for Callum Styles

Mumba left Wearside as an 18-year-old, but could now come back and show Sunderland how much he has improved as a player.

The 22-year-old could be a good left-back or left-wing-back option for the Black Cats, with Callum Styles (who they signed on loan from Barnsley in January) failing to impress on a consistent basis.

His speed, dribbling and ball-carrying ability from the wings make him a dangerous player for opposition defenders to handle.

The former England U19 international could also be available on a cheap deal if Plymouth are relegated back to League One. The Pilgrims are currently just two points clear of the relegation zone, so Sunderland could look to profit from Plymouth’s potential misfortune and negotiate a deal below his market value.

Mumba would represent a shrewd addition for the Black Cats and would plug a hole in a spot in the team where they need more - with him being an academy graduate, it's obviously frustrating for Sunderland that, if they want him, they have to re-sign him. However, he fits their current model as a young player with potential, and it may be time for Mumba to 'return home' if we see Plymouth drop out of the second-tier.