EPL Transfer News: Connor Wickham Makes Smart Choice in Picking Sunderland

For once in this crazy world of Premiership football, the little guys took the big name. Sure, the name is not proven or mature, but don't get me down about this transfer news.

Sunderland's acquisition of Connor Wickham was good for all parties. 

The EPL has become a party for but a handful of teams. You have your free-spending Chelseas and Mancheter Uniteds that blow the competition out of the water when it comes to buying power. 

It leaves middling teams to stay, well, in the middle. There is no hope for a Sunderland to crack the top three when they can't buy the skilled assets that would get them there. 

The only thing they can do is buy young and hope it takes them far. So it brings a smile to this soccer fan's face that one of the best young talents in England chose to bring his talents to Sunderland. 

Not only is it a great find for the club, it will prove vital to a young striker who is well on his way to becoming the next crown jewel of England.

Sunderland has opened the pocketbook and ensured what may be a future battle to keep an offensive star with their club. 

If Wickham matures into his 6'3'' frame, and can meet expectations, Sunderland will be better off for some time. Then the inevitable fight to keep a star from shining elsewhere will come to fruition.

It is a battle that every middling club must contend with. For now, Sunderland is content to stick Wickham in the rotation and see exactly how he reacts to the rough-and-tumble nature of the EPL. 

And real, Wickham couldn't have chosen a better side to grow within. The big boys certainly would have come calling, but this was the right move for an 18-year-old with years to develop. 

At the top-tier of clubs, life is sink or swim. You either prove your mettle or get swept aside for another that will. With Sunderland, Wickham will get added time to show if he truly can translate talent into match-day skill. 

Smaller clubs can't buy their talent, so they grow it. Wickham provides that rare opportunity for a mediocre club to take the next step. 

Now it is time for Sunderland supporters to cross their fingers and hope the boy is worth the hype.