Sunderland completed a deadline day move for Nilson Angulo on Monday.
Sunderland signing Nilson Angulo could have joined a “top-six Premier League team” if he had waited until the summer to leave Anderlecht, according to an expert in his native Ecuador.
The 22-year-old completed a permanent move to Wearside on Monday, arriving for an initial £15 million, with a further £2.5 million in potential future add-ons. Prior to making his switch to the Stadium of Light, Angulo had been enjoying a stellar campaign in the Belgian top flight, registering six goals and seven assists across 22 league outings.
And in his assessment of the transfer, former Manchester City striker and ex-Ecuador international Felipe Caicedo has suggested that Angulo’s trajectory could have taken him to the very upper echelons of the English game this summer, had he waited a little longer before pulling the trigger on his exit from Anderlecht.
As quoted by Olé, the 37-year-old said: “An obvious leap in quality [from the Belgian top flight to the Premier League]... But I think if he had waited six months until the end of the season, he would have signed for a top-six Premier League team.”
What else has been said about Nilson Angulo’s transfer to Sunderland?
Addressing the decision to sign Angulo this winter, Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman explained: “Nilson is an incredibly exciting prospect, and we are delighted he’s chosen to join Sunderland. A quick and creative wide player, he excels in all the core actions required to impact the final third, and he arrives ambitious to make an impression. He’s young but has already had many interesting experiences as a senior player domestically, on the European stage, and internationally with Ecuador. We are delighted to have completed this signing and look forward to welcoming Nilson to Wearside.”
The South American’s arrival also coincided with Simon Adingra’s exit from the Stadium of Light, with the Ivorian joining AS Monaco on an initial loan deal with an option-to-buy clause attached.
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Reflecting on the attackers’ exit, Speakman said: “When considering the balance and priorities of the squad, we felt this was a mutually agreeable opportunity that ensures Simon plays regularly throughout the second part of the season.
“The stature of this move represents the quality and professional characteristics he possesses, in addition to his motivation to play every week. We wish Simon well and will monitor his progress closely.”
Adingra leaves Sunderland having made 15 appearances across all competitions since his summer arrival from Brighton and Hove Albion, with his only goal coming in a 1-1 draw against Leeds United in late December.
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