For obvious reasons, football history is relatively lacking in footballers who made a direct switch from bitter Premier League rivals Newcastle United to Sunderland, or vice versa.
But as the North East duo prepare to renew acquaintances in 2025/26, could there be a very familiar face lining up in a red and white shirt while making a contentious return to St James’ Park?
Well, as things stand, there is nothing concrete at all to suggest that Jamaal Lascelles could be the first player since Jack Colback twelve years ago to leave one of those old adversaries for another.
Yet, Arsenal legend Perry Groves is the latest in an ever-growing list of pundits urging Sunderland to add some invaluable Premier League nous to a very young squad.
And, while Ajax open the door for Sunderland to re-sign Jordan Henderson, Groves wonders if a player picked to captain Newcastle all the way back in 2016 could follow in the footsteps of Patrick van Aanholt, Steven Caldwell and Titus Bramble while taking a path seldom-travelled from the Tyne to the banks of the Wear.
Photo by Scott Llewellyn | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Scott Llewellyn | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Newcastle United’s Jamaal Lascelles tipped for Sunderland
Lascelles is one of a number of Premier League veterans facing an uncertain future this summer.
His contract at Newcastle still has a year to run, though, and it is difficult to imagine The Magpies opening discussions with Sunderland regarding a man who still operates as their ‘club captain’, even if Bruno Guimaraes wears the armband on the pitch these days.
Groves, a two-time First Division champion with Arsenal, throws Everton giant Michael Keane into the mix when discussing potential bargain Sunderland signings.
He also draws comparisons between a Henderson homecoming and Ross Barkley’s top-flight resurgence with Luton Town in 2023/24.
“[Jordan Henderson would be a] good signing,” Groves argues. “Sunderland have to get experienced players in, if you look at that dressing room… they need players who have experience in the Premier League.
“If you look at Luton, when they gave themselves a great chance of staying up, they had Ross Barkley in midfield. Norwich [during two recent relegation campaigns] never signed players who were proven.
“I’m just looking at Jamaal Lascelles. Michael Keane is on a free. Those are the sorts of players you need to help those younger players at Sunderland. Their recruitment, if they get it right, they will have a chance.”
Michael Keane and Jamie Vardy among the summer’s free-agents
Keane feels like a more attainable option, on paper at least.
The Daily Mail report that the Manchester United graduate, who joined Everton in a £30 million deal from Burnley in 2017, is expected to leave on a free this summer with Wolves showing an interest.
Keane only recently turned 32 and still has a few chapters left to be written in his footballing story. Furthermore, while game time has been limited of late, Keane still stepped up impressively when called upon by ex-Black Cats boss David Moyes last term.
Other soon-to-be free-agents include Abdoulaye Doucoure, Keane’s long-time Everton teammate, as well as Vladimir Coufal, Victor Lindelof, Nelson Semedo, Kyle Walker-Peters and Ben Davies.
Sunderland have been tipped to bring in Jamie Vardy, meanwhile. The evergreen Leicester City legend scored nine Premier League goals last term, after all.
As for Henderson, talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook can envisage the Sunderland-born former Liverpool skipper returning to act as a mentor on and off the pitch to the Black Cats’ new generation.
“Sunderland is probably the one Premier League club he could join, and I think it would make a lot of sense,” Crook says. “It’s a young squad. I think he would bring much-needed experience into that dressing room.”
While potentially making room for Henderson, EFL Analysis understands that Sunderland could accept a £30 million Borussia Dortmund bid for Jobe Bellingham.