Journalist Michael Graham has responded to rumours that Sunderland are interested in striker Ike Ugbo.
Sunderland are working hard on signing a new striker right now, ahead of the start of their 2024/25 Championship season next month.
So far this summer the Black Cats have signed three new players, with Ian Poveda joining Sunderland earlier this week.
Up next for Kristjaan Speakman, and has indeed been the case for a few transfer windows now, is the club’s striker issues.
Sunderland have desperately lacked an out and out no.9 in the last year-and-a-half, but Speakman is making efforts to resolve that issue.
Sunderland want to sign Alexandre Mendy from Caen, though that move appears to have a few hurdles, and Sunderland are interested another striker as well.
Fans are making their guesses as to who this mystery striker might be, with Ike Ugbo’s name coming up; the Canadian international spent last season on loan in the Championship with Cardiff City and then Sheffield Wednesday, scoring 11 goals throughout the season.
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Michael Graham plays down Ike Ugbo Sunderland rumour
Graham recently revealed the news of Sunderland being interested in a new and unnamed striker, who played in the Championship last season.
It’s also claimed that Sunderland tabled a £2.5million bid for a striker earlier this month, though who that is again remains unknown.
Fans are putting the pieces together and believe Ugbo to be someone of interest to Speakman.
He scored goals in the Championship last season, his current club Troyes look set to offload him this summer, and there’s numerous reports of him being valued around the £2.5million mark.
Responding to a question on Ugbo, though, Graham played down any potential interest from Sunderland.
Should Sunderland swoop in for Ike Ugbo this summer
Ugbo certainly showed promise in the Championship last season; more so at Sheffield Wednesday when playing in a more attacking and high-pressing side.
And that’s what Regis Le Bris looks set to bring to Sunderland next season, so in that sense, Ugbo could be a shrewd signing.
He’s got Championship experience too, albeit only a season’s worth, and playing in France, Le Bris may well play a factor in a potential Sunderland bid for Ugbo.
Right now though, it doesn’t seem like Sunderland are keen on the 25-year-old, or at least not to Graham’s knowledge.
It’d be a signing that makes sense though, and one that could potentially plug Sunderland’s long-standing striker issues.