Two of the clubs vying for promotion from the Championship at the moment are Sunderland and Leeds United. Sunderland and Leeds are only three points apart, with Sunderland in fourth place and Leeds in first.
Sunderland dropped to seven points behind Leeds United, who were gaining ground at the top of the Championship standings, at one stage in December. However, Sunderland‘s consecutive league victories and Leeds‘ consecutive draws have reduced the difference.
To start 2025 off right, Sunderland defeated Sheffield United 2-1 on New Year’s Day. After defeating Portsmouth in the league, the Black Cats confirmed that they had signed Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee.
Despite losing to Stoke City in the FA Cup, Sunderland is optimistic about the remainder of the 2024–2025 campaign under Regis Le Bris. Leeds, one of the top six competitors, is now being connected to a former Sunderland player who might potentially help the Whites advance before the Black Cats.
Leeds United is interested in former Sunderland star Bali Mumba.
At Sunderland, 23-year-old Bali Mumba rose through the youth ranks. He made his senior debut for the team in 2018 under then-caretaker manager Robbie Stockdale. He was born in South Shields. However, Mumba would depart in 2020 after only three seasons and ten first-team appearances.
Mumba signed a contract with Norwich City. However, he only made nine first-team appearances for the Canaries during a subsequent three-year tenure. In 2023, he paid £1 million to join Plymouth Argyle, and the rest is history.
Leeds United is now pursuing Plymouth’s 2022–2023 League One Young Player of the Season. According to Leeds United News, scouts from Leeds kept an eye on Mumba over the recent FA Cup weekend.
What was the cost of Bali Mumba to Norwich City?
According to the Roker Report at the time, Norwich City paid £350,000 to recruit Mumba, with the possibility of a £750k price increase. It’s unclear what the transfer’s final cost was.
It would be a bittersweet time for Sunderland, who would undoubtedly wish they had kept Mumba now, since he may be on the verge of securing a reasonably lucrative move to the top end of the Championship.
In 2023, Plymouth shattered their transfer record when they paid Norwich £1 million to sign Mumba. Leeds will need to pay a lot more than that to sign the outstanding Englishman, who has a deal that expires in 2027.
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