Report: Sunderland confident of signing player who Christian Eriksen called ‘really talented’ in 2014

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Sunderland are increasingly confident of signing Alex Pritchard this summer, according to the Northern Echo.

The Black Cats are apparently eyeing the 28-year-old, who is a free agent after his release from Huddersfield.

Despite competition from the Championship, Sunderland are reportedly optimistic about bringing Pritchard to the Stadium of Light.

The midfielder is understood to have held discussions with Derby County and Birmingham City as well.

Pritchard is expected to make his final decision this weekend, added the Northern Echo.

“He’s very skilful”

Pritchard rose through the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur and enjoyed a successful loan stint at Swindon in 2014.

Under the terms of his youth loan, he was ineligible to play in Swindon’s final league game, so he returned to Hotspur Way.

Pritchard then made his debut off the bench in the last match of the 2013-14 campaign, against Aston Villa.

Former Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen said at the time that he was impressed with the talented youngster.

“He’s a really good player and he made a real impression on me in the first few days he was back at the club,” the Spurs website quotes Eriksen as saying.

“He’s very skilful, good on the ball. He didn’t get much of a chance on his debut, a short time, but he’s really talented.”

Pritchard then took in two more loan spells while on Spurs’ books, playing for Brentford and West Brom.

In 2016, Norwich signed Pritchard, where he made 38 appearances, and two years later, he joined Huddersfield for £11m.

In total, he made 80 senior appearances for the Terriers, but he struggled to hold down a first-team spot last season and was released at the end of the campaign.