Sunderland will be glad they didn’t pursue one former transfer target after a poor start to life with a fellow Championship side.
The Black Cats made brilliant strides in the 2024/25 summer transfer window.
Regis Le Bris and Kristjaan Speakman were able to bring in the perfect blend of experienced Championship talent, whilst also not disregarding the current youth talents within the side, who have performed brilliantly up until this point.
The striker fiasco took up large amounts of the summer transfer window, with Sunderland keenly targeting 2023/24 Ligue 2 top scorer Alexandre Mendy, however no such deal was able to come into fruition.
Sunderland looked elsewhere with the signing of Wilson Isidor from Zenit to bolster current striker options, and Le Bris has added even more depth to his ranks with the recent arrival of free-agent Aaron Connolly.
There was another free-agent that was available this summer who Sunderland have previously been linked with a move for, however the Black Cats will be happy that they didn’t pursue a deal for the striker after recent revelations.
Former Sunderland target Kieffer Moore suffers difficult start with Sheffield United
Sunderland had previously been linked with Kieffer Moore in January 2024, however the Welshman opted for a move to soon-to-be promoted Ipswich Town, who he helped towards the Premier League.
He was available this summer as a free agent, and was snapped up by Sheffield United, where the 32-year-old has scored just one Championship goal.
Blades fans haven’t been 100% satisfied with his performances, despite Sheffield United enjoying an unbeaten start to the campaign, which sees them trail Sunderland by three points.
Per The Star, Sheffield United boss responded to criticisms of the striker, where he said: “Get behind the boy. He gives everything for the team. He’s a team player.
“He’s playing for bangs and bruises right the way through.
“Go and ask the players. Go and ask Callum O’Hare, go and ask Gus Hamer, go and ask Harry Souttar, go and ask Alan Knill, go and ask Jack Lester, what they think of Kieffer Moore. They’d all give the same answer.”
Sunderland dodged bullet with Kieffer Moore
Moore was certainly one to keep an eye on over the summer, with him tallying an impressive seven goals in 18 appearances for Ipswich Town, and there most certainly will have been discussions in Sunderland over the attacker.
However, in hindsight it is clear that Sunderland’s start to the season has shown that if Moore was brought in, the true potential of Eliezer Mayenda for example will not have been fully realised, and there is every chance that he could have been left to rot in the lower echelons of Le Bris’ squad.
Moore most certainly will have demanded regular game time as well, in comparison to the likes of Connolly, who has arrived on a one-year deal, and will undoubtedly come in as a squad player, and that will without a doubt put less strain on Le Bris handing out game time, and looking more towards who has performed as opposed to who has been promised a starting spot.