Sunderland AFC transfer could solve Stockport County, Dave Challinor problem | OneFootball

Stockport County desperately need to boost their defensive numbers in this window, and Sunderland may hold an answer

As the end of the January window draws near, Stockport County are still in need of boosting their defensive numbers.

A combination of loans and injuries have left the Hatters short in the defensive unit and, as yet, the club are yet to bring in any new recruits.

The winter window is due to close at on the evening of 3 February, meaning the club will need to act quickly if they do want to conclude any deals.

Here, Football League World takes a look at one relatively cheap option that might help plug the gap in the short term.

Young Sunderland centre-back could plug gap in Stockport County’s defence

County are in need of bolstering their backline, and one man that could prove a fruitful option is young Sunderland centre-back Joe Anderson.

The 23-year-old has made just five appearances for the senior Black Cats side so far in his career, since arriving from Everton's academy in 2023, and has spent the bulk of this season playing with the club’s Under-21s side.

Turning 24 a few days after the transfer window shuts, it is clear Anderson’s next goal is to find a place for him in first-team football. If that isn’t to be with Sunderland, a drop down a division might provide him with the best route to minutes.

It seems the sort of player, at the sort of age, that Sunderland would be open to sanctioning an exit for, and he’d arrive at Edgeley Park with more experience than other signings of this ilk might, having turned out 24 times for Shrewsbury Town in League One last season.

The Stalybridge-born defender also has ties to the local area, which brings with it its own attractions.

Any deal could play into the Hatters’ wider strategy depending on structure

Again, given the stage of his career he’s at, and the fact he has a contract running until 2026, Anderson will likely be available for a straight loan, to get him in the shop window.

However, there may also be space to offer a “loan-with-option” deal, whereby a fee is agreed that County can choose to activate at the end of the temporary stint to make it permanent.

That way, instead of gambling completely on young prospects who haven’t quite broken into first teams, like Lewis Fiorini and Lewis Bate, County would be able to give Anderson almost an extended trial, before deciding if he’s the right fit for the club.

That, or a loan, would go some way to solving County’s defensive gap, while not breaking the bank midway through the season.

Young, some experience in the league, looking for a platform to prove himself and slightly more mature than previous unsuccessful loans: Anderson fits the kind of profile that County have looked for in recent times.

Dave Challinor will want defensive reinforcements through the door

Whether County opt for Anderson or another similar target, what is a certainty is that manager Dave Challinor will want a defender through the door before the window shuts.

Key centre-back Fraser Horsfall is still yet to return from injury, and Sam Hughes has recently been loaned out to Peterborough United.

That leaves just the injured Horsfall and Ethan Pye as the only traditional centre-backs, with Challinor favouring a back three. Players like Kyle Knoyle, Jay Mingi, Callum Connolly can fill in there when required, but it’s likely the County boss will want more specialists in the position before the window shuts.

If, as expected, they are in the market for a defender, then Everton and Sunderland youth product Anderson certainly has enough plus points to make him worth a look.