Sunderland urged to sign brother of Leeds United star who has been compared to Leon Goretzka
Former Sunderland defender Thomas Helmer has highlighted a Bundesliga star that the Black Cats could swoop for.
January transfer rumours are already swirling on Wearside, with Sunderland linked with Conor Gallagher among several other players, most notably midfielders.
The Black Cats lost Habib Diarra to injury early in the season, leaving them with Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki as their two main midfield options.
The latter is set to jet off to AFCON in December, which makes it seem likely that they will look to recruit another central midfielder in January.
With that in mind, Helmer has highlighted one in particular who could transform Sunderland‘s squad.
Felix Nmecha mooted as potential Sunderland target
It’s not just Gallagher that has been linked, with Sunderland also said to be keen on signing Matteo Guendouzi.
Those links make it clear that it is an area they will recruit in, and Helmer believes that the Black Cats should look at Felix Nmecha.
Felix, the brother of Leeds striker Lukas Nmecha, has been a regular for Dortmund over the last two seasons and has impressed with his close control and physicality in the middle of the pitch.
Via the Bundesliga official site, he has even been compared to Leon Goretzka, who has been an integral component of the Bayern and German national team.
Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, Helmer urged Sunderland to take a look at him.
“One player who Sunderland could look at is Felix Nmecha at Borussia Dortmund,” Helmer said.
“He has had a very good start to the season in the Bundesliga, Champions League and for the national team. He is mentally and physically strong, and he is good on the ball.
“He was at Manchester City and also played for England in the youth teams, so maybe he would like to go back to England.”
What type of player is Felix Nmecha?
Aside from his physicality in height, of which Sunderland certainly lack in the middle, Nmecha is also excellent at taking the ball forward.
For this, he is very similar to Sadiki, though the German beats him when it comes to key passes.
Nmecha notched five goals and two assists for Dortmund last season, and with the same number of goals and one less assist so far this campaign, he is on course for the best season in his career.
Via FotMob, Nmecha has completed 14 dribbles in the Bundesliga this season, which is as many as Sadiki and Xhaka have managed combined.
His addition would not only add another option to Sunderland’s midfield, but it would signficantly improve it, though potentially at the expense of Diarra.
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