Fantastic 22-year-old says Sunderland is ‘perfect’ for him amid transfer interest

Pierre Ekwah responded to the recent attention surrounding his performance after scoring his fourth goal for Sunderland. He secured his second goal in three matches during Sunderland’s 3-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle.

Ekwah, a French player, demonstrated improved performance, particularly since being granted more freedom in midfield by Michael Beale. Although his initial tenure with the Black Cats in January 2023 was remarkable until an injury setback, Ekwah is gradually regaining his top form. Lately, he has been a consistent presence in midfield alongside Dan Neil.

Despite late interest in Ekwah during the summer transfer window, Sunderland managed to retain him. However, competition to retain him intensified during the January transfer window, with Crystal Palace, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest reportedly expressing interest. While Sunderland successfully held onto Ekwah once more, the possibility of losing him, along with other key players, looms if the club fails to secure promotion this season.

Despite the curiosity, Ekwah has stated that he is content at the Stadium of Light and considers it the ‘ideal place’ for him as a child.
When asked if Wearside is the greatest environment for him, Ekwah told the Sunderland Echo: “Oh, absolutely. Like I indicated the last time we spoke, I’m really happy here. It’s the ideal environment for my personal and football growth. I’m having a great time, and you can see a lot of other people are as well.

Ekwah then spoke about Michael Beale and how he had pushed him further up the pitch.

“We were talking about my past and all this, about where I’ve been and things like that,” he said.

“When the new gaffer came in he introduced himself and at the same time we introduced ourselves to him. Knowing the background of everyone I think is great and he’s done a great gesture and I appreciate that.”

 

Can we get the best out of Pierre Ekwah?

Pierre Ekwah’s journey at Sunderland has been full of ups and downs, but it’s evident that he was among the club’s top performers before his injury earlier this season. Despite his setbacks, the former West Ham player has been showing significant improvement lately.

It’s noteworthy that Michael Beale has recognized the benefit of allowing him more freedom in midfield, rather than restricting him to a defensive role. The partnership between Ekwah and Dan Neil has been exceptional, highlighting the positive impact they’ve had on the team’s ability to attack and create scoring opportunities, an area where the team had struggled in recent months.

Considering Ekwah’s young age and potential for growth, losing him this summer would be a major setback. It’s arguable that his departure to the Premier League at this stage might hinder our development, as we continue to build our team.