A former Middlesbrough loanee who was deemed to be a flop is reportedly closing in on a move to Sunderland.
Boro’s rivals have made a strong start to the Championship season and earned bragging rights in the Tees-Wear derby on Saturday, beating Michael Carrick’s men 1-0.
Despite their near-perfect start, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris still wants reinforcements and has his eye set on one former Boro striker.
Former Middlesbrough loanee Aaron Connolly on the verge of joining Sunderland
According to Roker Report, ex-Boro loanee Aaron Connolly is the man Sunderland are close to signing.
They claim that the Republic of Ireland international has been at the Wearside club’s training ground and that a deal could be announced soon.
Connolly spent the second half of the 2021-22 campaign on loan at the Riverside Stadium, but was disappointing to say the least.
In his 20 appearances for the Teessiders, the forward scored just two goals as a side then managed by Chris Wilder failed to reach the play-offs.
Sunderland only have Eliezer Mayenda available, with summer signing Ahmed Abdullahi out until December with a groin injury, Le Bris is short of options in attack.
Aaron Connolly admits he wasn’t in ‘right head space’ during failed Middlesbrough loan
After leaving Middlesbrough, Connolly’s fortunes didn’t improve.
Another failed loan spell, this time at Venezia in Italy, led to him being released by Brighton and Hove Albion.
He then linked up with former Brighton U23s coach Liam Rosenior, who brought him to Hull City on a permanent deal following a successful loan period but once again, he was let go at the end of last season.
Reflecting on his time at the Riverside Stadium, Connolly admits that he wasn’t professional enough.
Speaking to Hull Live in 2023, he said: “It’s a massive point in my career. I’m 23 next week, being 19 feels like a long time ago when I was playing in the Premier League regularly.
“That’s down to me and that’s stuff I’ve not been professional enough about. That mindset has completely flipped and if I can take anything positive from that Italy move, it’s that side of the game off the pitch, I had to get used to a different environment and just work. There was a lot of running in Italy but I’m starting to enjoy that bit of it as well, the professional side.”