A player who Sunderland were desperate to sign in January may soon be on the move.
Sunderland endured a mixed January transfer window, with Kristjaan Speakman completing deals for Romaine Mundle, Callum Styles, and Leo Hjelde.
All three went on to receive mixed reviews from fans. Speakman meanwhile received poor reviews for once again failing to bring in a new striker.
Though it wasn’t for a lack of trying, according to himself in a Supporters’ Collective meeting earlier in 2024.
Speakman revealed that Sunderland had seen deals for two strikers fall through, claiming that both were older, more experienced strikers.
Once again, this summer transfer window sees Sunderland desperately in need of striker signings, and also players with Championship experience.
One of their January targets fits the bill. And Sunderland must be ready to snap him up if he leaves his current club this summer.
Kieffer Moore facing contested summer at Bournemouth
One of the strikers linked with Sunderland in January, and likely one of the ones Speakman referred to when he revealed that deals had fallen through, was Kieffer Moore.
The Bournemouth and Wales striker eventually signed for Ipswich Town on loan, going on to score seven goals in 18 Championship appearances as the Tractor Boys earned an unexpected promotion to the Premier League.
Moore is under contract at Bournemouth for another year. But he’s widely expected to leave the south coast this summer.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola previously revealed that his players out on loan last season are set to return at the start of July, where conversations will then be had about their futures.
Iraola said: “If they say ‘I prefer to leave, because here I am not going to have the minutes I want’, then we have to discuss with the clubs, so the money works and everyone is happy.”
Speakman and Sunderland must be ready to snap up Kieffer Moore
Moore showed with Ipswich Town exactly why Sunderland wanted to sign him; he’s got Championship quality and scores goals in the second tier.
The chances of him ever breaking into the Bournemouth first-team remain slim, and it looks likely that he’ll be allowed to leave the club this summer.
Out of contract in 2025, he surely won’t command a huge transfer fee. So for Sunderland; given that and the fact that Moore is clearly someone who Speakman likes and has done his homework on, a permanent swoop for Moore this summer makes a lot of sense.
Ipswich beat Sunderland to the signing of Moore in January due to the Tractor Boys simply putting more money on the table.
Sunderland then will have to be ready to spend on the 31-year-old, who despite being much older than the rest of the Sunderland players, adds that all-important Championship quality, and even more important, he add goals to the side.
If Regis Le Bris is to succeed with Sunderland next season then he desperately needs a striker who can score gols in the Championship.