**”Sunderland Secures Milan Aleksic Amid Fierce European Competition: Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman Expects Teenager to Emerge as Key Attacking Midfielder”**
Sunderland managed to fend off strong European competition to sign Milan Aleksic, with Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman anticipating the 19-year-old’s development into an attacking-midfield role on Wearside.
Aleksic joined Sunderland on deadline day, signing a four-year deal in a permanent transfer from Serbian club Radnicki, reportedly worth around £3 million.
The young midfielder, who recently advanced from Serbia’s Under-19s to the senior national team, had been on Sunderland’s radar for several seasons. Speakman noted the challenge of securing Aleksic given the high level of competition.
“We’ve been interested in Milan for quite some time,” Speakman said. “The challenge was the strong competition we faced for his signature. Milan took his time to make the right decision, so it’s very gratifying for us to come out on top.”
Aleksic, who has been impressive at the senior level with Radnicki and in the Conference League qualifiers, is expected to develop into an attacking midfielder for Sunderland. He previously played in various midfield roles but will be primarily utilized in an attacking capacity.
“In his recent roles, he’s been versatile in midfield,” Speakman added. “We’re looking for players who can be flexible but specialize in specific roles. Long-term, we see him fitting into an attacking midfield role, although he has experience in other positions.”
Aleksic will be given time to adjust to English football, thanks to the depth of Sunderland’s midfield, which includes Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham, Alan Browne, and Chris Rigg, with Salis Abdul Samed also joining on loan from Lens.
“Fortunately, our current squad allows him to adapt at his own pace,” Speakman said. “There’s no immediate pressure for him to start or even come off the bench right away. If he performs well in training, he will have the opportunity to contribute. We’re excited about his arrival and will support him as he settles in, especially as he improves his English.”
