There may now be fresh uncertainty over a Sunderland summer transfer target.
Sunderland look set to, and determined to add to their two summer signings before the start of the 2024/25 Championship season.
Regis Le Bris has less than three weeks before his side travel to Cardiff City in next season’s Championship opener.
So far, sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has managed deals for free agents Simon Moore and Alan Browne, with the capture of experienced Championship midfielder Browne looking particularly impressive.
But fans are eager for more new names to arrive at the Stadium of Light in the coming days and weeks, with Speakman keen to sign a striker and finally solve the club’s no.9 woes.
Caen striker Alexandre Mendy has been linked, with journalist Michael Graham recently suggesting that he’d be surprised if Sunderland don’t sign Mendy this summer.
Another striker on the Black Cats’ radar is Tottenham Hotspur gem Will Lankshear, with reports that Sunderland have enquired about signing Lankshear on loan this summer.
Sunderland target Will Lankshear flying to Japan with Tottenham Hotspur teammates
Tottenham Hotspur have flown to Japan as part of their pre-season preparations.
Ange Postecoglou’s side have friendlies against Kobe and against the K-League Stars, and Lankshear has been included in their squad list for the trip to Japan.
Midfielder James Maddison also posted a picture on his Instagram story on Monday and Lankshear can be spotted in the top left of the image.
What the latest Will Lankshear update may mean for Sunderland
Postecoglou is a big fan of Lankshear, having recently spoken positively about the 19-year-old who’s been handed a new five-year deal in North London.
And with Lankshear heading out to Japan it may suggest that Postecoglou wants to take a further look at the Englishman and figure out whether or not Lankshear can benefit the first-team next season.
So Lankshear has a chance to impress the Spurs boss. For Speakman and Sunderland, though, Lankshear heading out to Japan may suggest, at the very least, that a possible move for Lankshear won’t be possible until a bit later in the summer transfer window.
That’s if Spurs still fancy sending Lankshear out on loan this summer, which may depend on how he fares in this summer’s friendlies.
Spurs play Bayern Munich twice after their games against Kobe and the K-League Stars, with their Premier League season starting on August 19th.
The summer transfer window slams shut on August 30th.