Sunderland may well have seen their pursuit of this Premier League and international striker come to a premature end.
Sunderland look like they’re closing in on their first signing of the January transfer window, and their first signing of the Michael Beale era too, with Callum Styles reportedly closing in on a move to the Stadium of Light.
He might be the first of a handful of signings in this final week of the January transfer window and it certainly needs to be; the Black Cats have lost their last three and Beale is rapidly becoming a man under pressure.
A striker remains a key priority for the club, and one linked this month is Kieffer Moore.
The Bournemouth and Wales striker has fallen out of favour on the south coast this season, featuring just eight times in the Premier League and scoring once, and last week it was revealed that Sunderland and Championship rivals Ipswich Town had both submitted loan offers for the 31-year-old.
Alan Nixon expected tough race to sign Kieffer Moore
There’s been no updates on Moore’s situation at Bournemouth, prompting speculation that he might well be staying with the Cherries.
And Alan Nixon has since suggested on X that Bournemouth would prefer a permanent offer for Moore instead of a loan offer.
He posted:
Sunderland may have to move on from Moore
The idea of bringing in Moore was, or is, a nice one.
He’s a tried and tested striker with great experience, so adding him to a very youthful Sunderland side which is lacking a quality no.9 would’ve added some much-needed balance more than anything.
But it always seemed like a difficult move; not only because of the finances behind the deal but also the fact that other teams, like Ipswich Town, are keen.
Though unless a team comes in and submits a bid for the Welshman then it seems like he might be staying at Bournemouth, which won’t be all that positive for Moore.
He’s really struggling for game time and he may well be frustrated that he’s not yet moved on this month.
Though the final week of the January transfer window is always the busiest and there’s every chance that Moore moves on, and maybe even a chance that he still arrives on Wearside with the Black Cats having made their move.
Sunderland remain in desperate need of a striker and with the board looking likely to back Beale for a little while longer, they might fork out on a striker like Moore, simply to save face.
Up next for the Black Cats is a home game against Steven Schumacher’s Stoke City this weekend.