Rak-Sakyi features: 3 perfect PL loan signings Sunderland AFC should already be eyeing | OneFootball

Sunderland's transfer model is based around bringing in young players and developing them to a higher standard, so Premier League clubs should look at them as the perfect place to send their young, talented players.

As much as the club's model has been successful in getting them back to the Championship, there have been some bumps along the way.

Their failure to recruit a reliable goalscorer massively hampered them last season, and, even though they attempted to bring in a more experienced marksman in the January transfer window, they weren't able to resolve this issue, which wasn't helped by their narrow-minded search for a youthful one in the summer.

Nevertheless, this model has brought the likes of Jack Clarke, Trai Hume, Dan Ballard and others to the club; all of whom have been successful players, and could be on for big moves soon.

It may not be to quite the same extent, but the club will go back to their youth-first approach this summer, and these are three Premier League youngsters that should already be on their watchlist – even if only on loan...

1 Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

The Black Cats have already been linked with a move for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi by The News, who claim that Championship newcomers Portsmouth are also interested in signing Rak-Sakyi.

Sunderland, Leicester City, and Hull City were all linked with a move for the former Charlton Athletic loanee last summer but he ended up staying with the Eagles.

His goals record during his time at the Valley was a very impressive one, and, even though sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has said that the search parameters for attacking options in the summer will be wider than last summer, when they went for youth first, Rak-Sakyi would be a very good option, if they can get him.

The availability of the 21-year-old will be better known towards the end of the window, as his parent club could lose two former Championship stars in the window - Michael Olise and Ebere Eze - which would leave them a bit short in the wide areas.

If they manage to hold on to their star players, then it could free up the 21-year-old for a loan move to a team like Sunderland.

2 Mahamadou Susoho

19-year-old Manchester City midfielder Mahamadou Susoho is going to struggle for opportunities in the first team, given that they have arguably the best holding midfielder in the world in Rodri so a loan move makes sense for him to be able to continue to develop.

That said, he has appeared on the bench multiple times for Pep Guardiola's side, including in their Champions League semi-final bout with Real Madrid.

Although Sunderland have a lot of midfielders, it's only really Dan Neil that can truly hold down that number six role. They need more depth in this area of the pitch, and Susoho's willingness to tackle and quickly move the ball about would make him a great option.

He is quite card-prone, and Man City would probably wait to see what the Black Cats' new head coach is like before considering sending him there, because they want their players to be moulded in a very particular way, but Susoho should be one that they mark out as a top candidate.

3 Fin Burns

Centre-back Fin Burns was a consistent part of a Stevenage side that hugely overperformed in their first season back in League One. He started 31 of his 37 league appearances and strongly displayed his defensive duel-winning ability – winning 64.5% on the ground and 69.4% in the air (FotMob).

Yet another product of the Man City academy system, the 20-year-old, who also had a brief loan spell with Swansea City, could act as good cover for Sunderland, who are at risk of losing Ballard this summer, with Ipswich Town reported to be one of the suitors, as per TBR Football.

Like with Susoho, if they can show that they are going to be back to their more free-flowing attacking ways, then City could see them as a great option for Burns to go to continue to develop as a player.