In 2022, Sunderland reportedly brought Ukrainian defender Roman Didyk in on trial, with hopes of signing the promising young talent. However, the deal fell through after Didyk sustained an injury, leading the Black Cats to abandon their plans. Details remain unclear about how long the 22-year-old spent on Wearside or how close the potential transfer came to being finalized.
Recent reports from TaToTake suggest that Didyk, now playing for Ukrainian Premier League side Rukh Lviv, has attracted interest from Preston North End, one of Sunderland’s Championship rivals. Preston, who are also linked with Didyk’s Rukh teammate Oleksiy Sych, have struggled to meet the financial demands for a transfer. Both players have been standout performers in Ukraine, with Didyk even scoring a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer against Champions League regulars Shakhtar Donetsk last weekend. Additionally, Didyk has earned three caps for Ukraine’s U21 national team, cementing his reputation as a rising star.
Sunderland’s interest in Ukrainian players isn’t new. Last summer, the club signed forward Nazariy Rusyn from Zorya Lugansk. However, Rusyn has found it difficult to make a consistent impact, scoring just twice in 29 appearances. This season, the 26-year-old has played only 64 minutes of Championship football and hasn’t scored, with his last appearance being a brief cameo in a 2-0 victory over Derby County in October. Despite past setbacks, Sunderland’s willingness to explore the Ukrainian market signals their intent to uncover hidden talent, even if some gambles don’t pay off.
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