"Hyperinflating in value" - £200k deal handed Sunderland their biggest transfer bargain | OneFootball

FLW has been speaking to our Sunderland fan pundit to find out who is the Black Cats' biggest bargain from their time as a fan.

Highlights

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sunderland have a long history of signing some fantastic players for cut-price fees, with their new transfer model accommodating the potential for plenty more in the future.

Kevin Phillips, Jermain Defoe, and Kevin Ball are some of the biggest bargains in Sunderland's history, whilst more recently, players such as Luke O'Nien and Aidan McGeady have provided excellent value for the Black Cats.

The club has begun to direct much of their recruitment focus to scouring the market for young gems over the last few years, to varying degrees of success.

But which piece of business stands out above the rest as Sunderland's biggest bargain? Football League World investigates...

Sunderland's "biggest bargains"

FLW's Sunderland fan pundit, Travis Martin, believes that despite numerous players having credible claims as being the biggest Black Cats bargain, there is one deal in particular that stands out above the rest.

Martin said: "Biggest bargain is a really tricky one actually. I would say in recent times, if you look at our first team, we've got a lot of relatively good bargains within our first 18.

"The transfer policy for the club over the last few years has been looking at them top academies in England and Europe, and trying to bring players in who aren't necessarily going to make the first team.

"But adding on a significant sell-on clause or buy-back clause which has led us to integrate these players into the first team gradually, and hyperinflate their value by giving them game time. It's meant that a lot of players coming in at once at the age of 21, having had 50-60 senior games under their belts.

"I can think of quite a few off the top of my head, Dan Ballard being one. He wasn't going to get into the Arsenal first team, but shows lots of Arsenal-esque qualities of a central defender. Not only is he really strong, but his ability to pass and move from the back is quite significant.

"He seems to be a real bargain given the fact I think he's probably one of the strongest central defenders in the Championship now, providing that he sustains fitness. Ajibola Alese as well, again injuries are a little bit of an issue for him, but he's been exceptional in central defence and at full-back when fit.

"Pierre Ekwah, who looks like is going to sell on for a significant profit after coming in from West Ham's academy. It looks like he may move on this summer to Udinese, but selling on for a significant profit and being a bargain at that.

"One of the biggest bargains in modern times; Ross Stewart coming in for less than £1m, and selling him for £10m to Southampton despite being injury prone. I think if he'd have stayed fit, he could probably have been playing Premier League football much earlier.

Trai Hume has been vital to Sunderland

A rock at the back for Sunderland for the last couple of seasons, the Northern Ireland international Hume is undoubtedly one of the Black Cats' most valuable commodities.

The 22-year-old is mature beyond his fragile years both in stature and in mind, growing into a real leadership role at the Stadium of Light in the process.

Comfortable operating anywhere across the defensive line, whilst also being capable of playing further up the pitch if needed, Hume is Sunderland's Mr. Reliable, as he is seldom seen dropping below a seven out of 10 every week.

"Signing players from the Irish league and then hyperinflating in value, or being fantastic, long-standing players at the football club. Seamus Coleman for example. The EFL is now really looking at Ireland as a way in which they can bring in young, energetic, talented players at a low value.

"Ability to overlap, ability to cross, his one-on-one ability to defend is second to none. He's often having to do a two-man job with Patrick Roberts playing so high up the pitch, and unwilling to defend.

"Susceptible to a yellow card but, also very much a mentality monster, who we really miss when he's out with injury or suspension. So I would say Hume, in modern history, would be our biggest bargain."

Hume's 308 duels won and 97 tackles won were both more than any Championship right-back last season, whilst his 244 recoveries were also higher than any other second-tier player in his position - per FotMob.

A pivotal part of Sunderland's future, Hume is without question one of the club's biggest bargains in recent times, and supporters will be hopeful they can keep him around long-term despite interest unsurprisingly growing in the excellent young defender.