Sunderland may have been handed a damning transfer prediction.
Sunderland get underway in the Championship this weekend, with a game away at Cardiff City.
It’s Regis Le Bris’ first competitive match as Sunderland manager and it comes after a mixed pre-season and summer transfer window.
Last time out, the Black Cats drew against Marseille in what was arguably their best performance of the summer so far.
But it was a summer with some mixed results, most notably a defeat vs Gateshead early on.
In the transfer market, Kristjaan Speakman has been faltering once again in the club’s bid to sign a striker.
Blondy Nna Noukeu has joined Sunderland on a free transfer to take the club’s summer signings to four, along with Simon Moore, Alan Browne, and Ian Poveda.
A striker is still needed with Sunderland linked with Alexandre Mendy at Caen, with Ike Ugbo now emerging as a transfer target following his impressive spell on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.
Ike Ugbo latest as Sunderland battle Sheffield Wednesday
Last week, it was revealed that Sheffield Wednesday had agreed a £2.5million fee to sign Ugbo from Troyes.
But the French outfit were concerned about the structure of the deal and that reportedly allowed Sunderland to move ahead in the race for the Canadian international’s signature.
Journalist Phil Smith though believes that the Owls are still in pole position to land Ugbo this summer.
He said on The Roar when asked if Sunderland are ‘serious contenders’ to sign Ugbo this summer: “I think ‘serious contenders’ is fair.
“But I don’t see them [Sunderland] as the front-runners in that one.
“I think it’s fairly obvious that Sheffield Wednesday are very keen to have him back; I think he would be very happy to go back.”
“I would expect, at a certain point, Sheffield Wednesday to get the deal done.”
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Ugbo is reportedly keen on a return to Sheffield Wednesday this summer, and so it might take a real effort from Sunderland to get this one over the line.
Even then, Speakman would be signing a player who wanted to go to another club, compared to one that’s desperate to move to Wearside.
But Mendy appears very keen on moving to the Stadium of Light this summer, following his recent transfer plea.
Mendy recently released a statement outlining his intent to leave Caen this summer and his frustration that a deal is yet to be concluded.
With Sunderland looking like they might miss out on Ugbo, Speakman should keep tabs on Mendy, and try and figure out a price tag with Caen so that the Black Cats can finally end their striker woes in the Championship.