Sunderland will look to repeat the success of last season's Premier League loan deals - but only if the budget is still there after their main summer recruitment drive, says Tony Mowbray. The Black Cats brought in Manchester United forward Amad and Everton striker Ellis Simms last summer and both players proved a huge hit on Wearside, while Joe Gelhardt joined from Leeds United in January and also made an important contribution as the club secured a play-off spot on its return to the Championship.
Sunderland have already brought in four new faces and Mowbray has said that a couple more signings are 'in the pipeline'. He has made it clear that Sunderland's priority is to add players on a permanent basis, but has not ruled out entering the loan market once again.
"Our preference would be to sign our own players but once you get that business done, if there's still budget left it's always a market you look at," said Mowbray. "As a club we work to the budget, so while you never know how much a signing is going to cost exactly until it's signed and done, I think it's always a potential and as of last year with Amad, they can be a real benefit to the football team so if the budget allows it's something we should and will be looking at."
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Amad's loan in particular was a spectacular success, with the Ivory Coast international lighting up the division and ending the season as Sunderland's 14-goal top scorer, and as a result he may be given a chance with the Red Devils' first-team this season or possibly loaned out to a top flight team either in England or in one of the other major European leagues. Simms scored seven goals in 17 outings before he was recalled by Everton in January and Sunderland were interested in re-signing him, but last week he completed a permanent move to Coventry City.
