Sunderland made ‘significant efforts’ to sign a couple of strikers in January, it has been revealed.
Every club could do with a goal-scoring forward right now. But Sunderland perhaps more than most.
That’s been the case since the start of last season now with the Black Cats often getting by with the goals of Jack Clarke and other midfielders.
He’s scored 15 in the Championship this season but with Clarke currently injured, Sunderland are really struggling.
Summer signings Luis Hemir, Nazariy Rusyn, and Mason Burstow have just three Championship goals between them this season.
It’s leading into yet another transfer window where a new striker will be the key aim for Sunderland. But it turns out they tried quite hard for a new striker in January.
Kristjaan Speakman says Sunderland made ‘significant efforts’ to sign strikers in January
Sunderland held a Supporters’ Collective meeting earlier this month and released the notes from said meeting this week.
Among several interesting revelations was one regarding the January transfer window and the club’s efforts to sign a new striker.
The note reads:
“KS [sporting director Kristjaan Speakman] added that in January, the Club made significant efforts to sign two forwards where the associated fees were considerable. Unfortunately, they were not able to complete these deals for reasons outside of the Club’s control, including the individual preferences of the players and their parent Clubs. One of these players was over 30 years of age, which was an area highlighted earlier.”
One player who Sunderland were heavily linked with was Kieffer Moore; Sunderland wanted a loan deal for Moore who eventually joined Ipswich Town.
Since, the 31-year-old Welsh international has scored six goals in 10 Championship outings for the Tractor Boys.
Reasons outside the club’s control is no excuse
Like Speakman says, it’s probably safe to assume that things happen in transfer deals that are unavoidable for the buying club.
Moore may well be one of the strikers he’s referring to and he may well have opted to join Ipswich personally.
But Sunderland need to prepare for these outcomes.
The club needs to have a huge list of potential signings that they can work through instead of relying on a handful, because as we’ve seen at the Stadium of Light, if they turn down the approach, the club will be left shorthanded.
It’s of course easier said than done and with a new manager to appoint in the summer, Sunderland’s summer transfer plans may well be on the backburner for the time being.
But it remains the case that a new striker is needed in the summer with Burstow’s loan ending, and neither Rusyn or Hemir impressing.