Sunderland and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman have ‘definitely’ looked at this Euro 2024 striker.
Sunderland remain in desperate need of a new striker, and once again, the Black Cats’ sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is tasked with finding one.
But Speakman doesn’t just need to find any striker; he needs to find one that’ll give Regis Le Bris goals next season, after last summer’s three striker signings scored just three Championship goals between them in 2023/24.
Right now, Sunderland are working on a deal to sign Alexandre Mendy from Caen, but the Black Cats may now face a new obstacle after Kylian Mbappe became a majority shareholder of the Ligue 2 club.
Elsewhere, it’s reported that Sunderland tabled a £2.5million bid for a striker, not Mendy, earlier this summer, with an unnamed Championship striker on Sunderland’s radar ahead of the start of the new season.
And now there’s another name doing the rounds; Zan Vipotnik.
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Sunderland have ‘definitely’ looked at Slovenia striker Zan Vipotnik in the past
Reports have emerged in Europe recently, claiming that Sunderland are among the teams eyeing Slovenia and Bordeaux striker Zan Vipotnik.
Vipotnik scored 10 goals in 37 Ligue 2 outings for Bordeaux last season (12 less than Golden Boot-winner Mendy), before representing Slovenia at Euro 2024 in the summer.
The 22-year-old failed to get off the bench in games against England and Denmark but played 15 minutes of the group game against Serbia.
Journalist Michael Graham has now confirmed that Sunderland and Speakman have ‘definitely’ taken a look at Vipotnik in the past, but failed to confirm whether or not they still have an interest.
Bordeaux recently applied for bankruptcy following failed takeover talks, potentially allowing the likes of Vipotnik and more to leave in a fire sale this summer.
Sunderland should cash in on Bordeaux misfortune
The key thing for Speakman this summer is signing a new striker. And in order to do so before August 30th at the very latest, he must keep his options open.
Mendy is clearly someone of interest but Sunderland can’t put all their faith in a deal for the Guinean, as we’re already seeing the Black Cats run into obstacles.
With Vipotnik already known to Sunderland and potentially available on the cheap this summer, it could be a quick swoop for Sunderland, who’ll want at least one new striker in before the start of the new season.
Vipotnik will be on a high after playing in Euro 2024 and after reaching double figures for goals in his first season for Bordeaux.
And at 22 years old, he’s still a young player, and one with some decent experience too, albeit not in English football.