Romaine Mundle’s Rangers dilemma emerges after Sunderland’s FA Cup triumph vs Everton
Romaine Mundle has been linked with a move to Rangers on loan from Sunderland.
Sunderland advanced to the next round of the FA Cup on Saturday, with Robin Roefs coming up with the goods for the Black Cats in the penalty shootout.
Quite frankly, the tie should never have gone to penalties had it not been for an abhorrent refereeing decision to gift the Toffees a lifeline in the dying minutes, though the Black Cats were certainly worth their win.
However, amid ongoing speculation connecting Mundle with a move to Rangers, the winger was handed his first start of the season, and his display brought mixed results.
Sunderland faced with difficult Mundle decision
Mundle has bags of ability for a 22-year-old, but his ability to showcase that on the regular has been hindered by his injuries over the last 12 months.
The former Spurs academy star was handed his first start of the season against the Toffees, and he provided a lot of quality, but also a handful of concerns.
First and foremost, he did what very few players have done this season – showcase a willingness to take the shot on.
Jordan Pickford was forced into several big saves from Mundle, who was constantly looking to be direct and make something happen.
His defensive work was outstanding, and that hasn’t changed from his time in the Championship.
However, Mundle gifted possession back to Everton on far too many occasions, with several loose touches, poor decisions, and a lack of physicality.
It was his first start of the season, though, and personally, the positives from his display certainly outweighed the negatives.
With that said, those issues are only going to be ironed out with constant exposure to football, and at this stage, it’s difficult to say whether Sunderland or Rangers will be better placed to offer him that for the rest of the campaign.
- Read more: Sunderland eye £21.7m deal for Atletico Madrid star who was once called ‘clever’ by Lionel Messi
Mundle’s future up for debate, but Dan Neil has all but had his exit confirmed
Given the performance in Sunderland’s defeat to Brentford, almost everyone expected wholesale changes, including Dan Neil to come in for Granit Xhaka.
He didn’t, in fact, Neil failed to even get on the pitch despite the fact that it was an FA Cup game.
He, too, has been linked with a move to Rangers, and after having no involvement at Hill Dickinson Stadium, everyone seems to have come to the same conclusion – he’s off.
If that is the case, he will depart with nothing but the best wishes from Sunderland supporters, who have plenty to thank him for from their rise from League One.