Robbie Brady has made no effort to hide his ambition to return to the Premier League at the first available opportunity.
“The only target I have set is getting out of the league (the Championship) and getting into the Premier League as soon as possible,” the Republic of Ireland star said earlier this month.
Brady was reflecting on his inability to get a move away from Norwich City in the transfer window, despite his heroic displays at Euro 2016 and his performances in the Premier League last season.
It's hard to believe Robbie Brady isn't a Premier League player https://t.co/VL59DuzMB0
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 5, 2016
Leicester City, Everton and West Ham were all linked with moves for the 24-year-old, but Norwich’s reported asking price of £20m seemingly put-off clubs bidding for the player.
However, regardless of whether Norwich get promoted this season, it doesn’t look like Brady will be in the Championship for long.
He’ll have 12 months remaining on his contract next summer, which will automatically lower Norwich’s asking price as they won’t want to risk losing him for nothing when his contract expires.
That would be a preferable scenario to one that will be presented to Brady in January, according to reports.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Brady and Shane Long are January targets for Sunderland, who desperately need to add quality to their squad to avoid relegation to the Championship.
David Moyes’ side are marooned at the bottom of the Premier League, with two points from eight games and without a win this season. Unless they can drastically improve their form over the next few months, they’re going down, and, unlike Norwich, their squad doesn’t appear equipped to make an instant return to the top flight.
Moyes is understood to be a big admirer of Brady’s ability, and needs another striker to compete with Jermain Defoe, or partner him, in Sunderland’s attack.
Long hasn’t been amongst the goals this season, but remains a proven Premier League player who would definitely improve Sunderland’s squad. Whether Long can be tempted north is arguably unlikely at this point, as the 29-year-old signed a new four-year deal at Southampton during the summer.
However, as Brady is keen on an instant return to the Premier League, there’s a chance the Dubliner might be tempted to make the move to Sunderland.
It could be argued it would be much better for him in the long-term if he avoided the Black Cats.
What would be the point in returning to the Premier League only to be relegation a few months later, when he can remain in the Championship for a few more months and get a better move next summer?
In the latest GAA Hour, we talk to Ken McGrath of Waterford and with Declan Brennan about a new club players’ association.
