Sunderland have made early moves in the transfer window to sign Enzo Le Fee, but they have to keep going and reinforce another area of the squad soon.
To the surprise of many, Sunderland have not only acted quickly this month, but have also seemingly managed to pull off what could be one of the best signings of the window.
Enzo Le Fee is set to arrive from Roma on a loan deal until the end of the season, meaning Regis Le Bris has solved the midfield needs he felt his team had going into the campaign.
So, what’s next? Sunderland fans want a new striker, and we’re inclined to agree with that sentiment.
Sunderland need another striker to support Wilson Isidor
Yes, Wilson Isidor may be one of the best strikers in the Championship, especially given the ‘dangerous’ form he is in right now, but that doesn’t mean Sunderland can rest on their laurels.
If Sunderland truly want to push not only for promotion, but for the Championship title this season, they need more firepower and more strength in depth.
| Statistics | Wilson Isidor (2024/25) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 23 |
| Goals | 8 |
| xG | 6.7 |
| Shots on target | 44.2% |
| Shots per 90 | 2.69 |
No successful team has ever relied solely on the goals of one player and gotten away with it, and the fact of the matter is, Wilson Isidor cannot play every single game from now until the end of the season. He needs cover and competition to maximise his own potential and for the team to thrive.
While Eliezer Mayenda has emerged as a ‘first-class’ player of late, Aaron Connolly and Nazariy Rusyn cannot be depended upon to deliver, and the return of the injured Ahmed Abdullahi will not be enough to carry the Black Cats to glory.
Do Sunderland think short-term or look to the future in striker pursuit?
With Isidor only on loan until the end of the season, Sunderland may need another striker for the 2025/26 campaign. That is, unless they do achieve promotion this year, in which case Isidor’s loan becomes a permanent move by obligation.
Let’s assume the worst, that the Black Cats do need to replace Isidor in the summer; that would mean either finding a suitable long-term replacement now, or hunting for one come the end of the season.
Sunderland could look at signing Will Lankshear on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, or hope that someone like Louie Barry can suitably add the goals and creativity needed to go up, but that gamble could backfire.
It all depends on how ambitious the Sunderland hierarchy is feeling right now. If they were to sign a striker who can serve them long-term, and provide goals now, they would be in a win-win situation regardless of whether promotion is achieved this season.