Manchester United sell young goalkeeper Nathan Bishop to Sunderland – days after his horror tackle left Wrexham’s Paul Mullin with a punctured lung
WHAT HAPPENED? Just days after his horror challenge on Mullin that left the Wrexham striker with a punctured lung, the young Manchester United goalkeeper has left the club to join Sunderland on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, the club confirmed on Wednesday.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Bishop was involved in an accidental collision with Mullin during a pre-season friendly match between United and Wrexham in the US. The incident happened in the 12th minute of the game, with Mullin subsequently receiving treatment which necessitated the use of an oxygen mask. He was then taken off and transported to hospital for further treatment. The striker is currently recovering at club co-owner Rob McElhenney’s residence in Los Angeles.
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Sunderland: Colin Dagba signing would be bad news for Gooch
The Black Cats are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the full-back this summer.
An update has emerged on Sunderland and their attempts to bolster the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 Championship season,
which kicks off this week.
What’s the latest Sunderland transfer news?
According to French outlet Foot Mercato, the Black Cats are in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a deal to sign defender Colin
Dagba this summer, as sporting director Kristjaan Speakman works to land a seventh signing of the transfer window for Tony
Mowbray.
Eliezer Mayenda, Nectarios Triantis, Jobe Bellingham, Luis Hemir Semedo, Bradley Dack, and Jenson Seelt have all come through the
door so far.
The report now claims that the second-tier outfit want to bring the right-back in from the Ligue 1 champions to improve their options
at the back.
It states that his pathway is blocked in Paris and that a permanent transfer to the Stadium of Light is now on the cards, although it
remains to be seen how much they need to pay in order to secure his services.
How good is Colin Dagba?
The 24-year-old is unproven at Championship level but he has plenty of experience in a major European league in France, with 76
Ligue 1 matches under his belt to date, and could thrive with the drop down in quality.
Dagba showed enough during the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Strasbourg to suggest that his arrival would be awful news for Lynden
Gooch, who has featured in 11 top-flight games in his career so far.
The current Sunderland defender played the majority of his matches, as he made 32 appearances in all competitions, at right-back and
the PSG battler could come in to take his minutes.
Dagba, who was once dubbed “humble” by ex-manager Thomas Tuchel, averaged more tackles and interceptions per game (2.3) and
won a higher percentage of his individual duels (52%) in Ligue 1 last season across 21 outings in comparison to Gooch in the
Championship (2.1 and 50%).
When you consider that the £22k-per-week enforcer was playing at a higher standard – within the top division of French football
instead of the second tier in England – and could excel at a lower level, these statistics suggest that the Black Cats target could be an
upgrade on the versatile American in terms of the defensive work he could put in at right-back.
Therefore, Mowbray could opt for Dagba over the 27-year-old dud in that position to improve his backline by putting in a defender
who can win the ball back for the team more frequently at an efficient rate.
Another reason why this could be bad news for Gooch is that The Academy of Light graduate is now in the final year of his contract at
the club.
This could mean that he is fighting for his future on Wearside as his performances this season could dictate whether or not they decide
to offer him an extension.
Therefore, if Speakman lands the signing of Dagba, who could eat up Gooch’s game time at right-back, may leave the USA
international sweating as he may not get the opportunities on the pitch to fight for a new deal, which could lead to him leaving on a
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