Football League World

Tottenham Hotspur may be set to make a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, following reports linking the Premier League side to Burnley and Sunderland's respective number ones, James Trafford and Anthony Patterson.

Johnstone has emerged as a potential target for Spurs in this January transfer window, according to TBR Football's Graeme Bailey. They are set to be without their first-choice shot-stopper, Guglielmo Vicario, for a few months, and, as a result are looking to bring in another option this winter.

Patterson and Trafford had been linked with a move to link up with Ange Postecoglou. However, Football League World's sister publication, GiveMeSport, reported that Spurs were going to wait until the summer to bring in someone that could push Vicario for his number one spot in the Spurs starting XI.

Bringing in Johnstone, should they make that move for the former England international who only joined Wolves this summer, would represent a stop-gap move by Spurs and would still leave the door open for a summer move for either of the Championship glovesmen, but this latest update should settle any nerves in the Burnley and Sunderland camps.

Burnley and Sunderland receive potential Spurs boost

TalkSPORT had stated that Trafford, who was bought by Burnley for an initial £15 million which could rise to £19 million from Manchester City last summer, was a candidate that Spurs were considering making a move for in January. He has kept 15 clean sheets in 24 appearances, conceding only seven goals in that time.

Patterson, the slightly more experienced of the two, was named by The Sun's Alan Nixon as another option that Postecoglou's side were considering heading into the first month of 2025. He has also been linked with Manchester United this season.

Both players now appear to be less viable options for Spurs to go after in this window, as Johnstone emerges as a more likely candidate.

Burnley and Sunderland must have goalkeeping contingency plans in place

The calibre of keeper that both clubs have makes it inevitable that there will always be interest in them from bigger teams. With this comes a need to forward-plan.

In Burnley's case, you could argue that they have already done the work to ensure that they would be fine in this position of the pitch even if Trafford were to be snatched away from them. They signed two goalkeepers in the summer, Vaclav Hladky and Etienne Green. Meanwhile Sunderland aren't quite as prepared.

Simon Moore, 34, has deputised for Patterson this season, and did a fine enough job when asked to step in during the four games that the 24-year-old missed due to injury, but he's not a viable, long-term option for them. Plus, Blondy Nna Noukeu hasn't done anything to suggest that he'd be at the requisite level to step in for Patterson.

Both teams need to know what they would do if either player were to leave their current club in this window, or even in the summer, which is a real possibility.

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...

Burnley have been told to hold out for more than the £20 million deal Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly lining up for goalkeeper James Trafford when the January transfer window opens.

Spurs are understood to have placed Trafford on their transfer shortlist for the winter window, which would see the England youth international make his return to the Premier League in a possible eight-figure deal.

But, is the 22-year-old shotstopper ready to make the step back up to top-flight level? And what sort of transfer fee should it take for Burnley to consider cashing in?

We put those very questions to our Clarets fan pundit Will Lancaster, in an attempt to perhaps find out what the feeling is regarding this storyline around Turf Moor...

Spurs told to avoid January transfer for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford

Speaking in response to our Trafford-related questions, Lancaster told FLW: "I'm quite unsure if James Trafford would be ready for a step-up back to the Premier League.

"Obviously, he had his struggles there last season, and was eventually replaced by Aro Muric towards the end of the campaign. Muric is struggling in his own right at Ipswich this season, and Trafford's really benefited from half a year in the Championship.

"I don't think he'd be the right solution for Tottenham right now. Maybe another year in the Championship would do him the world of good, but I can see why they'd be interested in signing him.

"Burnley have the meanest defence in the second tier, he's young, he's English, he's trained with England ahead of the Euros as sort of a work experience deal to prolong his development."

Discussing the sort of price-tag Burnley should place on Trafford, Lancaster added: "That could also work in Burnley's hands, and I think with Trafford having so much potential and being such a rock for them this season, having paid £15m rising to potentially £19m, that transfer fee should really be doubled at the very minimum.

"I think £30m would be a great sum of money for a club of our size. But again, it's whether Alan Pace and Scott Parker think that James Trafford can bring more in the future.

"If Burnley do go up, strengthen well and they stay up and Trafford continues to shine in the league, there's no reason why they couldn't ask for more."

Burnley will surely want to have replacement lined up before sanctioning any James Trafford sale

Should Burnley land somewhere between £20-30m for Trafford in January, there's no doubting that such a cash injection could provide the platform for the Clarets to go and really bolster their promotion credentials with some new additions in the winter window.

However, it of course would come with the caveat of losing their number one goalkeeper, and the options that are currently at Parker's disposal to replace Trafford may not be deemed capable of filling his gloves.

Vaclav Hladky is the clear number two goalkeeper at Turf Moor this season, and the 34-year-old was in goal for every single one of Ipswich Town's Championship fixtures last season, which would ultimately see the Tractor Boys win automatic promotion to the Premier League.

However, despite finishing third in the Championship behind West Brom's Alex Palmer (18) and Leeds' Illan Meslier (18) for clean sheets with 14, his 66.9 per cent save percentage ranked him in the bottom 42 per cent of Championship goalkeepers last season - per FotMob.

He's made just two appearances for Burnley so far this season, which came in a 5-0 routing of Cardiff City in the Championship, and a 2-0 loss to Wolves in the Carabao Cup.

Behind him is third-choice option Etienne Green. The 24-year-old Frenchman joined from Saint-Etienne in the summer window, but is yet to make his debut for the Clarets, and could be in need of a loan move elsewhere in January.

Leeds United have been dealt a potentially significant blow in their pursuit of Atalanta defender Ben Godfrey, who is of interest to Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the January transfer window.

That's according to a recent report from Football Insider, where it has been claimed that Spurs have enquired for Godfrey.

Godfrey, who made his first-team breakthrough at Norwich City under current Whites boss Daniel Farke before earning a reported £25 million switch to Everton in 2020, currently finds himself out of favour at Atalanta.

The 26-year-old has chalked up just 22 minutes of league action this term for Atalanta, who are currently leading the way in the Serie A standings with a two-point advantage over second-placed Napoli.

It's understandable, then, just why he hasn't been able to gain much of a look-in under Gian Piero Gasperini despite only joining back in the summer and why the exit door appears a potential avenue next month, but Leeds' chances of completing the deal are now seemingly weaker.

Tottenham Hotspur join transfer race for Atalanta's Ben Godfrey

As per the aforementioned report, Spurs have made contact with Atalanta in a bid to sign Godfrey and alleviate the current defensive crisis in which Ange Postecoglou is contending with.

It's said that Spurs are looking to acquire Godfrey on a short-term loan deal for the remainder of the campaign, as Postecoglou seeks a quick-fix to the side's present concerns.

Spurs, who have conceded nine goals in their last two matches and were put to the sword in a 3-6 home defeat to Liverpool yesterday afternoon, are currently without their first-choice central defensive duo of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero through injury.

Consequently, ex-Whites prodigy Archie Gray has been forced to play at centre-back as of late following his summer move from Elland Road.

Leeds United's interest in Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Ben Godfrey

It could represent something of a blow to Leeds, who are reportedly keen on Godfrey. Last week, journalist Graeme Bailey revealed the Whites' interest to LeedsUnited.News, though he clarified that any such move remains unlikely until Farke's side return to the Premier League, adding further incentive to their promotion pursuit.

Leeds are currently competing for automatic promotion and they're just three points behind league leaders Sheffield United, so a return to the top-flight and a subsequent move for Godfrey could well happen but their chances at potentially landing him in the winter window now feel even slimmer.

Bailey explained to LeedsUnited.News: "Godfrey is someone Leeds have liked for a long time. It is totally dependent on Leeds getting back to the Premier League. The player has interest in January, but from what I’m told he’s not massively looking to move.

"Everyone thinks, oh well he’s not getting game time at Atalanta. But they don’t actually realise that Atalanta are top of the league, the only reason he’s not in is because they’re playing so well.

"It’s not as if they don’t like him, they are literally just top of Serie A. British media are misreading that personally, Leeds like him but are only in the conversation if they go up."

Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur have taken an interest in Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford and Sheffield Wednesday shot-stopper Pierce Charles.

This is according to an update on X from Darren Witcoop, who has also reiterated that Spurs are also keeping tabs on Sunderland shot-stopper Anthony Patterson.

Both Trafford and Patterson have been the subject of plenty of Premier League interest in the past - and it previously looked likely that the former would secure an exit from Turf Moor following the Clarets' relegation from the top flight at the end of last term.

With Vaclav Hladky and Etienne Green both arriving, that could have made room for Trafford to make the move away from Lancashire, but he stayed put in the end and is currently Scott Parker's number one between the sticks.

It remains to be seen how long he will stay at the club for though, with chairman Alan Pace previously showing a willingness to cash in on players for the right price.

Pierce, meanwhile, currently finds himself behind loanee James Beadle in the pecking order, and his game time for the Owls this season has been limited because of this.

But that hasn't prevented him from attracting interest from elsewhere - and it's unclear whether he will still be at Hillsborough when the January transfer window closes.

Spurs eyeing Championship trio including James Trafford

Spurs' interest in Patterson has already been reported in the past, but it has now emerged that they are keeping an eye on two other stoppers in the EFL.

Trafford is now believed to be on their radar, having seen his £16m move to Newcastle United fall through during the summer transfer window.

Charles is another player now believed to be of interest to Ange Postecoglou's side, having recently attracted interest from Aston Villa.

All three Championship teams may be keen to take a tough stance on their keepers

The Clarets will surely be keen to retain their best players beyond the end of January, having cashed in on quite a few first-teamers during the January window.

A period of stability in the squad is needed - and their summer sales should allow them to retain much of their first team.

The Black Cats will also want stability in their squad as they continue their own promotion push - and keeping Patterson could make a real difference for them.

In terms of Charles, it's hard to say what the Owls will want to do with him.

But they may regret letting him go if they do in January, so all three players could potentially be kept by their respective clubs.

For whatever reason, things never really worked out for Georges-Kevin N'Koudou in England with both Tottenham and Burnley, but his career after leaving the country has certainly taken an upward trajectory.

It was Spurs who took the first punt on N'Koudou back in September 2016 when he was a fresh-faced 21-year-old, bringing the Frenchman in from Marseille for £9.4 million.

There were high hopes that N'Koudou could be a star of the future for Tottenham, but he found it difficult to adapt in England, and never truly reached the heights it was hoped he would do when he made the initial move.

Competition for places at Spurs back then was understandably high, and when he moved to Burnley in January 2018, many expected he would flourish playing in a side where competition wasn't quite as intense.

It didn't really work out that way for the fleet-footed winger though, who brought his struggles with him to Burnley, as he again struggled to make inroads into a Premier League starting XI.

Since leaving Spurs though, his career seems to have ignited, and some may be surprised to see just how well he's doing at the moment.

Georges-Kevin N'Koudou's career has taken off after failed Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley spells

After struggling so much in the English top-flight, it was a little surprising to see Besiktas stump up £4.6m to take him to Turkey, but he had a relatiely successful time in the Turkish Super League - more so than he did in England anyway.

For context, those 108 appearances made for Besiktas were almost three times as he made for Burnley and Spurs combined, while the 21 goals he scored in Turkey compares to just one netted in England, so his career has certainly taken off since leaving.

He now plays in Saudi Arabia for Damac FC, and his record this season has been nothing short of phenomenal, scoring eight goals in 13 Saudi Pro League games, and he also boasts an incredible six-match scoring streak in home games for the Saudi club.

This term, only Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandr Mitrovic have scored more goals in the Saudi top-flight that N'Koudou, who seems to have found a level at which he excels.

Even last season he impressed in the Middle East too, clocking up 20 goal contributions in 35 league games for the club, although he could only help them to a mid-table finish.

Unlike some other clubs in Saudi though, not many of his other teammates are household names, with 79-cap Romania international midfielder Nicolae Stanciu perhaps the next best-known.

It's hard to believe that N'Koudou is the same player who flopped at Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley

English football fans largely won't pay too much attention to the goings-on in the Saudi Pro League, so to most, it will be a huge surprise to see N'Koudou excelling the way he has done over there.

Naturally, the standard of the league isn't as high as the Premier League, but he showed few signs when playing in England that he could go on to perform at the level he did do.

He certainly didn't stand out in a Burnley team who had a squad of players far less talented than those Spurs had, which would suggest that the then-European-chasing Clarets were probably a level too high for him.

There's an argument to be had that N'Koudou has now found his level in Saudi Arabia, but on the evidence of his two spells in England, no one would've believed that he'd be rivalling Ronaldo and Benzema for a golden boot.

Tottenham Hotspur will not make a move for a goalkeeper until the summer amid links to Burnley and Sunderland's respective keepers, James Trafford and Anthony Patterson, according to GiveMeSport.

As soon as Guglielmo Vicario suffered an ankle injury against Manchester City, that is set to keep him out for months, it was no surprise to see reports of them looking to shop in the glovesmen department.

It was also not a shock to see Ange Postecoglou's side - one that likes to play out from the back - look at some of the young talents of the second tier, including Trafford, 22, and Patterson, 24.

Burnley's number one, who already has experience in the Premier League thanks to his first season with the Clarets, was a target of Newcastle United's in the summer, but the two clubs could not reach an agreement. Now it is Spurs who have a supposed interest in the England under-21 international, according to talkSPORT.

The Sun's Alan Nixon has since reported that Sunderland's first choice has also emerged as an option for Tottenham. The club's academy product has been their starting keeper for the past three-and-a-half seasons, and has also been linked with other top flight teams like Manchester United.

Spurs to not make January move for a goalkeeper

The timing of Vicario's injury - not too long before the new year - made signing someone in his position in the winter window seem like the logical thing to do. Fraser Forster is currently in net for Spurs, and while he's by no means useless, the 36-year-old is not necessarily the type of goalkeeper that Postecoglou would recruit to start games for him.

Burnley and Sunderland supporters may have feared potentially losing their first choices between the sticks, but, according to GiveMeSport, Spurs are going to wait until the summer to bring in someone that can challenge Vicario.

If they do make a move for a goalkeeper, they would most likely slot in as the number two behind the Italian, but with the view that they could push him and not just be like Forster, who is there in case of emergencies like the current one.

Burnley and Sunderland must have goalkeeping succession plans in place

The talent of the two sides' shot-stoppers makes it inevitable that higher-ranking teams will be interested in them almost every single window. Burnley and Sunderland aren't likely to settle for any less than £20 million for either player, but someone will test that sooner or later.

The Clarets do have a strong back-up, or maybe two, in the building already, with promotion-winning keeper Vaclav Hladky and Etienne Green on their books.

Carlton Palmer does not expect Leeds United to sanction the sale of Pascal Struijk this January amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves and Brighton.

According to Teamtalk, the trio of Premier League clubs are eyeing a potential move for the centre-back in the new year.

Struijk is a key figure in Daniel Farke’s side, and has played in all 21 of the Whites’ opening league fixtures so far this term.

Leeds also lack defensive options, with Max Wober and Joe Rodon being their only other recognised centre-backs in the first team squad.

Carlton Palmer gives Pascal Struijk transfer verdict

Palmer has praised Struijk’s performances for Leeds this year, and believes he could be a solution to Spurs’ own defensive issues.

However, he is sceptical that the Championship side would sanction any big sales in January, given their pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.

“What’s surfaced at the moment is that clubs in the Premier League, Tottenham, Wolves, to mention two, are interested in signing their experienced centre-back Struijk,” Palmer told Football League World.

“The 25-year-old has been absolutely outstanding for Leeds United this season.

“The likes of Tottenham are looking to strengthen that area in the transfer window, with the likes of Micky van de Ven, who has been injured a lot with hamstrings and Romero, who has either been suspended or injured.

“They’ve had a problem in that area.

“But I think it’s unlikely that Leeds are going to sell the 25-year-old in the January transfer window given their remit is to get back to the Premier League.

“However, Struijk is one of those players who signed for the club as a kid, so any transfer fee they would retain for Struijk would be profit.

“But with Leeds looking to get back to the Premier League this season, that is their priority, I cannot see them entertaining any kind of sale.

“They did what they had to do in the summer with the sale of Gray, with the sale of Summerville.

“I think it’s highly unlikely any more players will be allowed to leave Leeds United in the January transfer market, with their remit to get back to the Premier League.”

Leeds will need mega offer to sanction Struijk sale

It seems highly unlikely that Leeds will want to cash in on anyone this January given how close the competition is at the top of the table.

The team’s lack of alternative options in the squad means that centre-back is one area where they are especially unlikely to sell.

It will surely have to take a mega offer in order for them to part ways with the Belgian, all things considered.

While Spurs and Wolves may be desperate to strengthen at the back, it’s not likely they’d be willing to splash the cash just for Struijk given what will be needed to convince Leeds to sell.

Tottenham Hotspur had a relatively quiet summer transfer window compared to some of their Premier League rivals, but one of their more notable additions was that of Archie Gray, who joined Spurs from Championship outfit Leeds United last summer.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou clearly has high hopes for the 18-year-old, who excelled in the second tier for the Whites last season, which was enough to convince the north London side to fork out a fee within the region of £30m for his services.

Making the switch from a Championship side to a Premier League club who are also striving to enjoy a successful Europa League campaign was a brave jump for Gray, who had to wait until early December to make his first top-flight start, albeit he had heavily featured for Spurs in both the EFL Cup and in Europe.

Gray's position at Spurs will surprise Leeds

Last season was Gray's first as a member of the senior squad at Elland Road, and one in which he proved his versatility, as he shone through as one of the second tier's best players both at full-back and in central midfield.

However, during his time with the West Yorkshire club, the Leeds academy graduate never started at centre-back for the Whites in the Championship, but being moved to central defence by Postecoglou has seen him make back-to-back starts for Spurs for the first time.

The Whites faithful will be surprised to see Gray operating as a central defender, but it is a role which clearly has the potential to work in both his and Tottenham's favour.

Last Thursday, he starred at the heart of Postecoglou's back four alongside Romania international Radu Dragusin, as Spurs drew 1-1 with Rangers at Ibrox.

Following a decent performance in Glasgow, the talented teenager was chosen as a centre-back once more as his side took on Southampton on Sunday night, and it worked a treat as Spurs kept a clean sheet during an emphatic 5-0 win over the Saints.

Furthermore, as per FotMob, Gray completed the most passes out of any player involved in Sunday's fixture between the Saints and Spurs, with 91 successful passes.

While the central defence role is still fairly unfamiliar to the England youth international, who played as a full-back or in midfield for Leeds last term, he is currently performing well there, and has every chance of remaining in his new position for upcoming challenges against Manchester United in the EFL Cup, and against Premier League leaders Liverpool in the top-flight.

Leeds supporters will be proud of Gray's Tottenham exploits

Last term, the Ellland Road faithful would have felt an enormous sense of pride seeing their club's academy graduate performing so well for the West Yorkshire side week in, week out.

Furthermore, the 18-year-old is part of a proud Leeds dynasty, as the son of Andy Gray, who played for the Whites in the Premier League, and the grandson of Frank Gray, who won the first division title with the Elland Road outfit in the 1970s, while he is also the great nephew of Leeds legend Eddie Gray.

His family links to the club will have made his decision to leave the Whites even more difficult, but supporters will also be proud to see him performing so well in the top-flight and in the Europa League.

But one aspect of Gray's Spurs career to date which may continue to surprise Leeds fans is that he is being deployed as a centre-back for his new club. He has the talent to play anywhere on the pitch in the eyes of many, but to see him at the heart of defence for an established and ambitious Premier League side already, will catch a few off guard.

The injury crisis at AFC Wimbledon could not have come at the worst time, and yet, you could also argue that there is a silver lining.

Despite the slew of injuries occurring right when the tough fixture buildup period around December and January has hit, the winter transfer window is just around the corner.

Even with the low transfer funds that fans of Wimbledon have become accustomed to too, thanks to being fan-owned and funded, there needs to be some moves made, especially in the defensive unit, which is where a former club of Johnnie Jackson steps in.

Johnnie Jackson must use Tottenham Hotspur connection to bring in Alfie Dorrington

Jackson should look to lean on his connections with Tottenham Hotspur, who were his first professional club, having signed that deal with the North London side in 1999. He would go on to play at Spurs 20 times and stayed until 2006.

It's another Tottenham graduate that he should have his eye on now, centre-back Alfie Dorrington.

Dorrington is highly thought of at Spurs, having been at the club since the age of 13 and progressing impressively through the ranks. He became the club's under-21s captain along the way, as well as earning youth international caps for England from u15 to u19 level, where he currently is in the England setup.

He is also a boyhood Tottenham fan and surely has his eyes set on becoming a mainstay in the Spurs first team in the not-too-distant future, having already signed his first professional deal with the club back in 2023 and trained with the senior squad since late last year too.

But the Lilywhites are probably going to want to test him out on loan first, with Dorrington not given first-team opportunities under Ange Postecoglou despite their current injury crisis at the back, and Wimbledon could be the perfect location for him.

He has gained experience against EFL and National League sides already this season, having played in the EFL Trophy and National League Cup group stages with Spurs age-group sides, so he will not take too much bedding into the tough rigours of League Two.

Away from match experience and readiness for action at Wimbledon, he is also perfectly suited to Jackson's style of play. A modern centre-back, Dorrington is comfortable and confident in possession, which is exactly the sort of player Jackson needs - with James Ball and Joe Lewis, the duo usually asked to progress the ball, both injured.

Spurs will want to see all facets of their youngster's game developed and the Dons could offer such a role if a loan deal was agreed.

Despite this transfer being quite an obvious move to make with Wimbledon's current injury problems and Jackson's connection to what you can consider his boyhood club, it would only be the second occurrence of using former club links to sign players up.

His only other signing from a club that he had previously been at was Josh Davison from Charlton Athletic, where Jackson had played, captained, and managed.

He brought Davison into the Addicks' first team while at Charlton as their manager and upon arrival at Wimbledon in the summer of 2022, he made the now 25-year-old one of his first signings, but the former Swindon Town loanee's time at Plough Lane was definitely a mixed bag, and not as successful as both he and Jackson would have hoped.

Instead, the connections most used at the club are those which are shared by Director of Football Craig Cope and first-team coach Dave Reddington, whose connections are to Solihull Moors and Crystal Palace respectively.

And the links between the two are already being used more than with Jackson's and with arguably better outcomes. From one of Cope's former clubs, Solihull Moors, the Dons have already pinched both Josh Kelly and Callum Maycock, and while it may have taken both a little while to grow into their roles at Wimbledon, they are both now becoming strong first-team members and sorely missed in Maycock's case with the midfielder being one of many names on the treatment table.

Whereas Reddington's former club, Crystal Palace, has already lent Wimbledon the services of Owen Goodman in goal since the coach's arrival in the summer.

Connections will forever be useful in the world of football, and despite the Dons' recent dip into the free agent market to sign both Sam Hutchinson and Romaine Sawyers on short-term deals, these links to former clubs should maybe be explored more in the transfer windows to avoid the rush to replace long injury lists with free agents and youth players being recalled from beneficial loan spells.

So, even though Jackson has had a very hit-and-miss record of going back to former sides for signings, it should certainly not be ignored next time an opportunity, or need, presents itself.

Steed Malbranque may not have been a household name for some, but his impact on English football, especially during his time at Sunderland, was profound and helped him achieve cult-hero status.

Born in Mouscron, Belgium, Malbranque progressed through the academy ranks at French club Lyon. Making his professional debut for the club as an 18-year-old in 1998, he proceeded to make nearly 100 appearances before a move to Fulham came to fruition in 2001.

There, he began to earn a reputation as a cultured midfielder with an eye for a pass and an engine that never seemed to run out of fuel. Malbranque’s career in England spanned a decade, and he left his mark at every club he played for, but particularly in the North East with Sunderland.

The Frenchman first arrived on British shores in 2001, when he joined Fulham from French side Lyon. It was at Fulham that he made his name, becoming a key figure for the Cottagers over five seasons. Malbranque’s technical ability, close control, and his knack for threading a perfectly timed pass made him a fan favourite at Craven Cottage.

His versatility allowed him to play both centrally and out wide, adding an extra layer of tactical flexibility to his game. During his time at Fulham, he racked up 211 appearances, scoring 44 goals and providing 29 assists in all competitions, demonstrating his ability to contribute in the final third.

After leaving Fulham in 2006, Malbranque made the move to Tottenham Hotspur, where he enjoyed two seasons of Premier League football. Though his goal contributions dipped slightly, his work ethic and consistency were still clear for all to see. Malbranque was never the most prolific player in front of goal, but his game was more about creativity and being a reliable player out of possession, which were two qualities that made him stand out in a competitive Spurs squad.

Remaining in the Premier League after his two years at Tottenham came to an end, Malbranque's next challenge came at the Stadium of Light, with the midfielder penning a four-year deal at Sunderland. It was his move to the Black Cats in 2008 that arguably brought out the best in Malbranque.

Signed for around £4 million, the Frenchman became an instant hit on Wearside, as his tenacity and quality helped stabilise the Black Cats in the Premier League. Playing under Roy Keane and later Steve Bruce, Malbranque slotted seamlessly into Sunderland’s midfield, where his experience and leadership helped guide the team to comfortable league finishes in most seasons.

Steed Malbranque's career at Sunderland

Malbranque enjoyed his best form in a Sunderland shirt during the 2009/10 season, proving to be fruitful on the left-flank out wide as opposed to the right. Malbranque remained at Sunderland for the 2010/11 season, but this time he moved into a more central role to accommodate loan signing Danny Welbeck.

Across his three-year stint at Sunderland, Malbranque made 112 appearances, and while he only managed two goals, he also provided 16 assists. His numbers may not jump off the page, but his influence on the pitch was undeniable.

Malbranque was the engine of the Sunderland midfield, a player who tirelessly worked box-to-box, linking play and setting the tempo. His intelligence and vision allowed Sunderland to dictate games, especially at home, where his composed play helped the team break down more stubborn defences as the heartbeat of the side.

It was Malbranque’s relentless work rate, coupled with his ability to retain possession under pressure, that endeared him to Sunderland fans. They loved his commitment, his determination to cover every blade of grass, and his willingness to give everything for the shirt.

He was a player who never shirked responsibility, whether it was tracking back to help his defence or driving the team forward in search of a goal. Sunderland hit the jackpot when they signed him, as he brought both quality and experience to the side during a period of transition.

Malbranque may not have grabbed the headlines with spectacular goals or flashy skills, but his contribution to Sunderland was immense. In a team that needed consistency and leadership, he provided both, and that’s why he remains so fondly remembered by Sunderland supporters to this day.

He left with their well-wishes, after completing three years of his four-year deal at The Stadium of Light, when he returned to France with Saint-Etienne securing his services. That's after Steve Bruce stated he was surplus to requirements, and it was also revealed his transfer would help to free up funds for new summer signings as well as to reduce their wage bill.

However, that stint proved to be very brief, and a return to Lyon came to fruition in 2012. Malbranque proceeded to enjoy another four years with the French club, before moves to Caen and a brief retirement before coming out of it to feature for MDA Chasselay.

The midfielder's last spell within his playing career was with FC Limonest Saint-Didier in the Championnat National 3 in 2020 until 2022, which took his playing career comfortably into his 40s, albeit at amateur level back in his native country.