Sunderland are yet to nail down their interest in a prolific goalscorer this summer.
Sunderland fans will be hoping this transfer window will be the one in which the club finally sign a Championship striker, having been without a quality No.9 since Ross Stewart got injured 18 months ago.
The Black Cats have been through the likes of Joe Gelhardt, Nazariy Rusyn and Mason Burstow since, but are unable to rely on any of their current crop for goals.
The club have been linked with very few strikers so far this summer, but are undoubtedly working behind the scenes to bring one in before deadline day next month.
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Sunderland have taken great interest in Mao Hosoya
One player they were linked with back in January was Mao Hosoya, who scored 14 goals in 34 matches last season for Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol.
The 22-year-old was named the J.League Best Young Player in 2022, as well as winning the EAFF E-1 Football Championship title the same year and the AFC U-23 Asian Cup with Japan in May.
Nothing ever came of Sunderland’s interest though, but after picking up five goal contributions in 19 matches this term, it is believed that the club have had a ‘very good look’ at the forward.
When asked if the Black Cats are still interested in Hosoya, journalist Michael Graham wrote on X: “Definitely one the club has taken a very good look at. Whether he’s an active one I have no idea.”
The Black Cats need to buy a striker from the top two English divisions
Sunderland were previously told by Carlton Palmer that signing Hosoya would be too much of a risk, and while he has plenty of senior football under his belt, a player from the Japanese league isn’t the proven Championship striker they need.
The Wearside outfit already snapped up a number of strikers last summer from across Europe, none of which had any experience in the English second division.
It proved to be the wrong decision and Sunderland have surely learned from their mistakes and won’t do the same thing again.
Hosoya could prove to be a quality signing, but it is still a risk and Sunderland can’t afford to take risks after such a disappointing 2023/24 campaign.