Sunderland

While a trip to London or a trip back to Newcastle seem to be his only current options out of Liverpool right now, other clubs should also be placing Andy Carroll on their transfer radar, especially Sunderland.

The Black Cats' forward line is missing a guaranteed goalscorer after Asamoah Gyan left the club last September to play for Al Ain in the UAE.

Luckily, a month before Gyan's shock departure, Steve Bruce drafted Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner. Bendtner was able to provide some sort of credible attacking threat, but eight goals in 29 league appearances last season showed that Sunderland still lacked a top quality goalscorer.

Stephan Sessegnon's seven strikes helped a great deal during his first full season at the stadium of light, while Sebastian Larsson and James McLean, rejuvenated under new boss O'Neil in the latter half of the season, became major threats on the Sunderland's flanks.

With Bendtner returning to Arsenal this season, Sunderland have just Fraizer Campbell, Connor Wickham and Dong-Won Ji who they can call their strikers. O'Neil needs to invest in a striker.

Enter Andy Carroll.

Liverpool, as we all know, are ready to let the towering striker leave, and now we know the price. 

£19 million is the figure that Liverpool desire before they'll let their faded star leave Anfield. But, for Sunderland, it might be worth it.

Carroll would be a perfect fit for the Black Cats with his size and aerial ability. Larsson and McLean are quality Premier League wingers and a monster of a man like Carroll would provide an easy target to pick out from the wings.

Sessegnon playing behind him would take away the need for creative play from Carroll with the ball at his feet, and would provide quick support as the big man holds the ball up in the final third.

Unlike his partnership with Luis Suarez, Sessegnon would be less attack minded, leaving Carroll to be the only man hanging an opponents back line and removing the need for him to drop as deep as he does for Liverpool.

Carroll, it seems, doesn't want to move to London so Sunderland would fit the strikers geographical requirements. The addition of Carroll would be a great snub to their local rivals, Newcastle, who are keen to bring their prodigal son back to the Sports Direct Stadium.

The only thing stopping O'Neil from making this move would be Carroll's price tag of £19 million. It is still a hefty sum of money, and one that most clubs wouldn't want to risk on someone who currently isn't a top goalscorer in the Premier League.

O'Neil has never spent big money on his clubs and has only broken the £10 million mark with four of his signings. The most he's ever paid for a player was about £13 million, when he brought James Milner to Aston Villa from Newcastle, but in general, the Irishman doesn't like to open his wallet too wide.

Maybe this summer O'Neil should think about letting lose on the purse strings to bring in a big money transfer. The pair could be a match made in heaven. O'Neil knows how to get the best out of players, rejuvenating the will and desire of players lacking in confidence.

Just look at what he did at Sunderland last season.

Martin O'Neill has made his first signing of the summer at Sunderland and that signing is a familiar face to the Black Cats manager.

The newest player at the Stadium of Light is former Rangers and Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar.

Sky Sports gives all the details on the transfer of the Spanish defender who was let go by Aston Villa after the end of the 2011-12 season.

Sunderland will be the sixth club for Cuellar, who spent the last four seasons at Villa Park.

Cuellar was brought into Villa Park from Rangers when O'Neill was in charge of the Birmingham club and now the current Sunderland boss has given one of his former players a chance to stay in the Premier League.

The 30-year-old defender will add to depth that the Black Cats have on defense, as players like John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Michael Turner and Phil Bardsley already occupy the back four at the Stadium of Light in front of keeper Simon Mignolet.

In his first full season in charge of the club, O'Neill will be looking to improve on last season's 13th-place finish in the Premier League.

In his time at Villa, Cuellar made 94 appearances in four seasons and played both centre-back and left-back for the club.

At Sunderland, Cuellar will be asked to play his preferred position, centre-back.

It has been reported today in The Daily Mail that Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill wants two of his former players at Aston Villa to join up with him at The Stadium of Light.

The duo in question is central defender Richard Dunne and striker Gabby Agbonlahor.

O'Neill does have a history of bringing former players with him to new clubs.

When he took over as Aston Villa manager, he immediately brought four Celtic players with him in Stilian Petrov, Chris Sutton, Shaun Maloney and Didier Agathe.

He also brought in former Leicester player Emile Heskey.

This time O'Neill is looking to Agbonlahor to solve his problems up front.

Nicolas Bentner has not impressed since he arrived on loan from Arsenal. Stephane Sessegnon is the club's top scorer with just seven goals this season, and O'Neill has said that Sessegnon may leave in the summer.

This means that Sunderland's top priority this summer has to be strikers, but is Agbonlahor the man to go after?

The obvious strength that Agbonlahor brings to any strike force is his blistering speed, but over the past few seasons he has added strength to that speed, which allows him to compete with defenders far more successfully.

Sixty one goals in 242 games isn't the greatest strike rate, however, and he has struggled for goals in the two seasons since O'Neill left the club.

Agbonlahor has fallen behind Darren Bent in the pecking order at Villa Park and a move to Sunderland could help boost his chances of playing for England.

It seems like the perfect fit and if the £7 million fee quoted by The Daily Mail is accurate, Gabby would be well worth the fee.

The stumbling block could be that Agbonlahor has been a Villa player his whole life and previously stated that he wouldn't leave the club while he was still wanted.

It may be a tough job for O'Neill to convince Gabby to leave the club he loves.

If Sessegnon does leave, more reinforcements than just Agbonlahor will be needed up front as The Black Cats are worryingly thin up front.

The other player in question is Richard Dunne. The Irishman has been a vital part of the Villa defence since arriving from Manchester City in 2009.

However, Dunne has been out of action for over a month with a fractured clavicle. At 32, his best years are behind him. Would Sunderland be better off looking for a younger centre back?

Sunderland fans, what do you think of these potential signings? Villa fans, can you afford to let these players go? Comment below.

December had just begun and Sunderland truly were down in the dumps.

Since the start of the 2011-12 Premier League Season, they'd managed just two wins—one which came against a last-placed Bolton. They'd chalked up 11 measly points in 13 weeks of play and it seemed destined that the Black Cats were in serious relegation trouble.

Fed up with frustration and inabilities to perform on the pitch, Martin O'Neill became the new manager of Sunderland—replacing Steve Bruce, the first casualty of a mediocre season.

The expectations on O'Neill couldn't have been simpler really—stop losing and start winning.

His first match would be a home game against fellow relegation zone battlers Blackburn, who took the lead after 17 minutes via Simon Vukcevic and led for the majority of the match.

When Vaughan scored in the 84th minute, O'Neill must have been relieved that his side had not churned out another defeat, and his management at the club didn't start out with a loss.

Well, imagine then what he must have felt when in the 90th minute of play, Sebastian Larsson grabbed the winner for the Black Cats and for the first time in a little while, the home fans went absolutely crazy.

Martin O'Neill's victorious leap in the air still remains one of the images of the season.

From there, it's been up and up for Sunderland, who now sit eighth on the Premier League table and undefeated at home since that incredible win over Blackburn.

And believe it not, since that first match under O'Neill, the Black Cats are leading the Premier League. They've chalked up more points in that time than any other club in the league—including the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs.

With a mouth-watering home match against Arsenal over the weekend, and then a replay of that match in their Fourth Round FA Cup duel, fans of the Black Cats must surely see one, if not both games as possible wins.

At home, they managed to topple league leaders Manchester City with another 90th minute thriller; one wonders if they will repeat a similar dosage for the Gunners—a side with Champions League dreams on the line.

Whatever the case, Sunderland fans must be simply delighted with their side's current progress and their performances under Martin O'Neill. What he's achieved already with the club is nothing short of incredible, and Black Cats fans must surely feel that the future is bright.

Under O'Neill, they are simply a different side from the one that started the year. They are not tackling liabilities, and they pose as genuine threats when attacking.

If Sunderland continue this stellar form, they are not only guaranteed a top-half finish, but most likely a finish in the top six—sitting amongst the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

And with a home game to Arsenal this week, whilst Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle all face tough games, it stands to reason that the UEFA Champions League isn't out of the picture yet for the Black Cats—especially if they continue to perform like they have done in recent weeks.

It might be hopeful, and it might just be dreaming, but considering the success that Martin O'Neill is having with this Sunderland side, it's not the most unlikely scenario.

The most unlikely scenario would have been the Black Cats losing once in their last eight and conceding four goals since Christmas.

Oh, wait....

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The FA Cup truly is a wonderful competition, purely for the fact that it allows teams to compete—no matter how excellent, average or downright terrible their regular season tournaments may be going.

And for both Sunderland and Middlesbrough, the FA Cup might just be the perfect opportunity to turn an otherwise frustrating season in to success.

So, with everything on the line, and both sides definitely confident at taking them home with them, this one could prove to be an interesting matchup.

Whether you're a diehard supporter or just a casual observer, here are five hot-to-trot money-making tips that are sure to make this game even greater for you.

1. Head-to-head

After both sides fought out a 1-1 draw in Sunderland, it's essentially a winner-takes-all contest that will take place in Middlesbrough.

At the end of the day, this is Sunderland's match to lose. They were nowhere near their attacking best when they struggled for the draw at home, but they are of a better class than Middlesbrough.

In fact, since Martin O'Neill took over as the club's manager, the Black Cats have racked up 19 points in nine games, and would be the league leaders had the season started upon his arrival. Don't believe that? Check it out here for yourself.

They've only lost once since Christmas, and that was to Champions League hopeful Chelsea, and have shown no signs of the hapless form that they displayed earlier in the season.

Expect Middlesbrough to do everything they can to hold off O'Neill's men, but a goal either side of half-time will be too much for them to overcome, as Sunderland take the win in this one.

Hot-to-trot tip: Sunderland to win the match

2. Half-time result // full-time result

Throughout their Premier League encounters, the Black Cats have displayed their dominance in the second half, rather than the first.

They are currently scoring (and allowing) more goals in the second half than in the first, and have only been leading at half time in 25 percent of their matches.

However, in that same period of time, their opponents have only taken the lead into the break on 25 percent of occasions. When you consider that the scoring prowess and abilities that the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and the rest of the Premier League sides possess, holding Middlesborough at bay should be an easier task.

Should be.

This doesn't mean that they will, but you've got to think that Martin O'Neill will have it drilled in to the minds of his players that allowing the first goal heaps all the pressure back on them. They allowed an early one against Middlesborough last time; don't expect that to happen again.

Hot-to-trot tip: Draw HT Result // Sunderland FT Result

3. Total goals for the match

Going off a scoreless first half, the 2.5 goal mark looks fairly safe, considering that three second half goals is unlikely. Over half of Sunderland's away matches have gone under 2.5 goals, and it seems highly unlikely that they will be pressing for a second or third goal in this one.

The money is coming for the under, and I think that it is a safe option, as long as it is a relatively quiet first half. If Sunderland get an early goal, expect the strong defense to come out to play throughout the remainder of the match.

And if they don't score early, that's less minutes for goals to be scored. I think Middlesborough may be frustrated up front—even at home—and that a quiet hour or so is bound to ensue.

Either way, the under 2.5 goals looks safe. Ish.

Hot-to-trot tip: Under 2.5 goals for the match

4. Player to score at anytime

Stephane Sessegnon has been a revelation for Sunderland in the latter part of the year, and has featured on the score sheet numerous times in recent encounters against quality Premier League sides.

He is the favorite by many markets to be first goal scorer for the match at around 6/1, and rightly so. With the lack of much offensive presence expected by Middlesborough due to the stiff Black Cat defense, taking a player to score at any time may well end up the first and only goal for the match.

I'd either take Sessegnon to score, or a 1-0 Sunderland victory. And considering this tip is about the a player to score, Sessegnon it is.

Hot-to-trot tip: Stephane Sessegnon to score at anytime

5. Team to qualify

This is a Cup replay, meaning that somebody has to qualify and someone has to go home, meaning that should the game be tied at the end of 90 minutes, extra time and possibly penalties will be required.

And thus running with the trend, it is obvious that a Sunderland victory means that they will qualify for the 5th Round.

Even with a draw, the Black Cats should have enough class to find an extra-time goal, or take home the match on penalties.

They let a win slip through their fingers last time the two sides met; expect Martin O'Neill's men to have too much class, skill and overall ability to let that happen again.

Hot-to-trot tip: Sunderland to qualify

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