Sunderland

Crystal Palace have renewed their interest in Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham, with the 20-year-old expected to be valued at £20m. (TalkSport, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is keen on Sunderland's 18-year-old goalkeeper Matty Young, who has kept six straight clean sheets to help loan club Salford climb the League Two table. (The Sun, external)

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has enquired about Roma's out-of-favour midfielder Enzo Le Fee, whom he formerly managed at Lorient. (Matteo Moretto, external)

Birmingham could be in for a cash boost if former star Jobe Bellingham is sold by Sunderland this month. The England Under-21 midfielder has attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle and Crystal Palace, with the Blues said to hold a 15% sell-on fee. (Birmingham Live, external)

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Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris was pleased with his side's will to win to conclude their busy festive programme.

The victory over Portsmouth ended their run of five games in 15 days in which time they have accumulated 10 points to remain in the mix at the top of the Championship.

Wilson Isidor scored the winner, just as he did against Sheffield United, to leave the Black Cats in fourth and only three points adrift of leaders Leeds United.

"This was a fifth game in 15 days with a short squad," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"So we can't expect a great level of play during the whole game. It's really impossible.

"But we showed that we wanted to win, we were connected even when it was a little bit more difficult."

Portsmouth will look to make it back to back wins for the first time this season as they make the trip to the Stadium of Light on Sunday (15:00 GMT).

Pompey began the calendar year with an emphatic 4-0 win over Swansea that saw them climb out of the bottom three.

Sunderland also claimed a big victory over promotion rivals Sheffield United on New Year's Day to move within two points of an automatic promotion spot and five points shy of league leaders Leeds United.

The Black Cats eased to a 3-1 victory in the reverse fixture in August, though they are only one of two sides in the top five to take all three points over the visitors this season (D3).

• Sunderland have won three of their last four league meetings with Portsmouth (L1) and could complete a league double over Pompey for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.

• Portsmouth have only won one of their last six away games against Sunderland (D2 L3 - including the playoffs), winning 3-1 in October 2020 in League One.

• Sunderland will begin a calendar year with back-to-back home league games for the first time since 2017, when they drew 2-2 with Liverpool and lost 3-1 to Stoke at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League.

• Portsmouth have lost each of their last three away league games, last losing four on the bounce on the road in November 2014 in League Two.

• The away side has won three of the last seven league meetings in the Football League between a team from Tyne and Wear and a side from Hampshire (L4), as many as across the 17 fixtures prior (D4 L10).

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter

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The decision by Regis Le Bris to play Eliezer Mayenda in a more central attacking role seemed to be key to Sunderland's win over Sheffield United.

The teenager's pace and dynamism combined with the threat of top scorer Wilson Isidor helped Sunderland maintain their unbeaten home record with some exciting forward play.

Combine that with a fine performance from goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and strong individual displays throughout the team and this was a standout win against a strong opponent.

Luke O'Nien also deserves credit for not letting the concession of a penalty and an own goal affect his overall contribution.

There was a real buzz at the Stadium of Light. I have little doubt Sunderland will still be in the promotion reckoning come the end of the season with an automatic place possible.

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Sunderland manager Regis le Bris remained phlegmatic despite a stoppage-time goal condemning them to defeat at Stoke City.

"[I am] Disappointed but it is a long league and a tough league with many, many games in a short period," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"The most difficult part of the pitch is always the final third. We created many chances I think we had 22 shots and two on the post, three big saves from the goalkeeper. Sometimes football is like that.

"Sometimes you score with one chance and other times you can't score with six, seven, eight or nine big chances.

"But the spirit was good and we have to keep the way we want to play. Sometimes we deserve to win and we don't so no drama."

Their next two league games are both at home, against Sheffield United and Portsmouth.

Nick Barnes
BBC Radio Newcastle

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What do Sunderland need in January?

As has been the case for several seasons now, a striker is once again a priority. Regis Le Bris has made no secret of the need for someone reliable up front and has stressed in recent weeks if they continue to create chances and fail to take them they will need reinforcements.

A right-back is arguably required but aside from that the midfield and defence is fairly robust.

What sort of business are they likely to do?

With several players due back from injury and most areas of the team well covered it's likely that business in January will be fairly limited.

Jordan Henderson's name keeps resurfacing and while fans would love to see him return it appears to fly in the face of the club model of recruiting young players with a sell-on value.

How successful have they been in recent January windows?

Hit and miss. Last season was quiet. Leo Hjelde and Romaine Mundle arrived on permanent deals and while Hjelde has struggled to make an impact, Mundle has been a surprise success but unfortunately ruled out for two months with a hamstring injury.

However, with him being due to return soon he will appear as good as a new signing.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

The club will try to move on Adil Aouchiche, Abdoullah Ba and perhaps Nazariy Rusyn. A few players may leave on loan. Joe Anderson, Zak Johnson and Jewison Bennette come to mind.

The biggest challenge will be keeping hold of their 'star' players - but they are all under contract and barring any offers that are just too good to turn down, it is unlikely there will be any departures.

If there are it would be hoped a deal would be struck for a loan back to the end of the season.

How important is the transfer window likely to be in determining the success of their season?

Potentially critical. If Sunderland are still in the top six, the window could be vital in terms of both players arriving and leaving. Fans will gauge the club's ambitions by the measure of the January business.

Another top versus bottom-half match-up on Sunday sees Stoke City host Sunderland.

The Black Cats, who are currently fourth in the Championship, got the better of the Potters a few weeks ago and Stoke have since parted ways with manager Narcis Pelach after their Boxing Day loss to league leaders Leeds left them languishing down in 19th.

• Stoke have lost one of their last seven home league games against Sunderland (W3 D3), losing 1-0 in 2022-23.

• Sunderland are looking to win three consecutive league games against Stoke City for the first time since a run of five between 1934 and 1936.

• Stoke are winless in their final league game of the calendar year in each of the last eight years (D3 L5) since winning 4-3 against Everton back in 2015.

• Sunderland are unbeaten in their final league game of the year in each of the last seven years (W4 D3) since they lost 4-1 to Burnley in 2016.

• Sunderland haven't lost any of their last nine league games against sides with 'City' in their name (W6 D3) since losing to last season's champions Leicester City in March.

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Regis Le Bris says consistency across 90 minutes is vital for Sunderland after they recovered from a poor first half to lead at Blackburn before having to settle for a point.

The Black Cats scarcely mustered a single attack of note during the opening 45 minutes, but fought back to take a 2-1 advantage as Chris Rigg and Wilson Isidor both found the net in quick succession.

However, the Wearsiders were pegged back by Blackburn substitute Harry Leonard's late equaliser and head coach Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle: "We have to work again on our consistency, it's a key word for a team to be at the top of the league.

"It wasn't our best start, we were just not at our best level but we reacted well in the second half. We played our football, we pressed high and recovered the ball and during the second half we had many chances to score.

"They reacted well, so they have the mentality – it's a question of starting from the beginning until the end."

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Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says defender Dan Ballard will miss their remaining December games due to injury.

The 25-year-old hobbled off during the Black Cats' victory over Norwich City on Saturday after a collision with the Canaries' top scorer, Borja Sainz.

Sunderland are scheduled to take on Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City before the turn of the year.

"Dan will be unavailable." Le Bris said., external

"It's difficult to say how long he will be out exactly, probably two weeks at least. Maybe a little bit more."

Ballard joined Sunderland from Arsenal in 2022 and this season has made 12 appearances.

Blackburn's defeat by Millwall at the weekend ended a run of six consecutive victories in the Championship.

Sunderland are one place above John Eustace's side but are six points ahead of them prior to the midway point of the season.

The Black Cats are unbeaten in their past four league games coming into the trip to Ewood Park.

• Blackburn have won three of their last five league games against Sunderland (L2), winning 5-1 in the most recent meeting in April.

• Sunderland won 3-1 at Ewood Park in the Championship last season – they last won consecutive league visits to Blackburn in September 1975.

• Blackburn Rovers have won one of their last 14 league matches on Boxing Day (D6 L7), beating Rochdale 2-0 in League One back in 2017.

• Sunderland have won three of their last four league games on Boxing Day, having lost four in a row between 2014 and 2017.

• Sunderland's Alan Browne has scored in four of his last five Championship appearances on Boxing Day, doing so for Preston in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023. Indeed, in Championship history (2004-05 onwards), only Jobi McAnuff has more Boxing Day goals (5).

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Teenager Harrison Jones has signed a new contract to keep him at Sunderland until 2026.

The 19-year-old midfielder has been with the Black Cats since he was six, coming through all the age-group levels.

Jones made his first-team debut as a substitute in the EFL Cup against Preston North End in August.

"This is my home, this has been my life for nearly 15 years now. I'm excited to see what the future holds," he told the club's website, external.

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Fourth-placed Sunderland came from a goal behind to beat Norwich 2-1 after the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the second half of a game which saw five bookings apiece.

Head coach Regis Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It was another tough game. Our opponent played well, we expected that, they are a good team, they can press and defend. It was a good challenge for us.

"The game was unstable with many mistakes from both sides but in the end we found a solution to win so it's good for us.

"The game was a little bit crazy, (a team) has to manage it properly. The referee did what he thought was best.

"During the corner kick (from which Norwich scored) I think it's a question of mentality. We had a lack of energy during that part of the game and it changed the dynamic.

"If we want to win more games we have to be well-rounded and set pieces are very important for that.

"It's not a question of snapping your fingers, you have to work on it, to show your improvements, from corners we are probably better, from throw-ins we still have work to do.

"Jobe is so powerful, he has the good quality to affect the game, it's not a surprise to us, he did very well today."