Sunderland boss returning to Villa for attacking pair
First signs are suggesting that freshly-appointed Sunderland manager, Martin O’Neill, is going to waste no time in improving his squad this January and is looking to approach former side Aston Villa regarding attacking duo, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Marc Albrighton.
O’Neill enjoyed a four-year spell at the helm of the Birmingham side, guiding the Villans to three sixth place finishes between 2006 and 2010.
The Northern Irishman left the club on controversial terms at the end of last season, but not before making some powerful connections which he may be intent on using in the very near future.
Sunderland have already seen a dramatic improvement under O’Neill’s reign, earning seven points from a possible twelve from his four games in charge, however the side’s offensive players are still lacking a clinical bite.
As a result, Villa stars Agbonlahor and Albrighton are understood to be on the Black Cats New Year shopping list, where the club will be out to get a cut-price bargain.
All puns aside, O’Neill holds an affinity with both players having handed Agbonlahor a massive majority of his 230 appearances for the side.
The progress of Marc Albrighton was also largely overseen by O’Neill who gave the 22 year-old his first start for the Villans.
The North East club have had to rely on their midfield stars for most of their goals this season with strikers Nicklas Bendtner, Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-Won all failing to make the grade.
Agbonlahor presents a seasoned top flight striker with 60 goals for the Lions, earning him the honour of Aston Villa’s second-highest scoring Premier League player behind Dwight Yorke.
Marc Albrighton may not have featured as much for the side, however the former Under-21 international has become a key component of the Villa midfield, and is believed to be a personal favourite of O’Neill’s.
Although Agbonlahor is known to be a life-long Aston Villa supporter, the 25 year-old may jump at the chance to join his former manager as current boss, Alex Mcleish, is believed to have disappointed a number of the playing staff leading to some unsavoury relationships.
Owner Ellis Short has shown his commitment to the Wearside club over recent years, spending big in several transfer windows and may be ready to fund the double raid, where an offer of £18m could prise the pair away from Villa Park.
