Sunderland given hope of potential Ellis Simms return with Everton future unclear

Sunderland fans may still be ruing over Everton's recall of Ellis Simms during the first half of last season.

It marked the start of an attacking crisis for Tony Mowbray whose first semester at Sunderland was plagued by injuries within the first-team.

Simms' recall was partnered by the first of two longer-term injuries to Ross Stewart, and should Simms have seen out his season-long at the Stadium of Light then who knows how the Black Cats' 2022/23 campaign might have ended.

The 22-year-old went on to play a back-up role for the Toffees. He featured 11 times in the Premier League and scored once after netting seven in 17 Championship appearances for Sunderland.

There were murmurings of a potential return to Sunderland during the January transfer window but nothing came to fruition. Now as we approach the summer transfer window, it seems like those murmurings are coming to light again.

Simms will always be a favoured name among Sunderland fans and with Mowbray still in need of strikers, Simms' name will obviously crop up on social media.

And speaking in a recent interview with Sunderland Echo, Liverpool Echo reporter Joe Thomas has suggested that Simms could be on the move again this summer maybe even permanently.

He said that bolstering the attacking department will be a priority for Everton this summer, and that could leave Simms as surplus to requirements.

Thomas said of Simms' situation:

“Everton may have seen enough, and finances may be tight enough, to keep him as a third or fourth choice striker. But if they have not seen enough then any money they can get for him could fund deals elsewhere and, with his contract set to expire next summer, this window is the last chance to get any real money for him.”

If Simms is up for grabs then it'll certainly grab Sunderland's attention, and it would certainly be a shrewd signing for Mowbray ahead of next season.

Read more Sunderland news