Sunderland look as though they might be closing in on the signing of a new striker.
Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is once again tasked with signing a new striker at the Stadium of Light.
Speakman has already outlined his desires to sign a prolific no.9 during this summer’s transfer window, after several windows failing to do so.
Last summer, the Black Cats signed three new strikers in Luis Hemir, Nazariy Rusyn, and Mason Burstow (on loan), though the trio managed just three Championship goals between them.
New head coach Regis Le Bris will be eager to see his side bolstered with attacking prowess this summer, so that Sunderland can improve on their disappointing 16th place finish last time round.
One striker linked with a summer move to Wearside is Caen’s Alexandre Mendy, who won the Ligue 2 Golden Boot last season after scoring 22 goals in the French second tier.
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Alexandre Mendy to Sunderland latest
There’s a bit of uncertainty around the Mendy to Sunderland story, with reports last week claiming that Mendy had decided to join Sunderland over Saudi Arabian side Al Riyadh.
Since, Caen’s head coach Nicolas Seube has spoken out on the matter, suggesting that Mendy to Sunderland is not cut-and-dried.
Seube said: “The Mendy file is not simple because the club wants to have a financial return on its sale, and the solicitations are not up to what it hopes.”
Journalist Michael Graham has now given Sunderland fans hope of Mendy arriving, suggesting that it would be very surprising if the Guinea-Bissau striker doesn’t arrive at the club this summer.
Can Alexandre Mendy be the man to solve Sunderland’s striker issues
Mendy is certainly in good form right now, following an impressive 2023/24 season with Caen, and an impressive couple of seasons before that.
In three seasons with Caen, Mendy has scored 57 league goals. But all of those have been in Ligue 2 with the striker having never cut it in the French top tier.
And having never played in England, there’ll be inevitable question marks over whether or not he could cut it in England, and in an increasingly difficult and technical Championship league.
But expect Le Bris to have known about Mendy for a long time now and expect the French connection between him and Mendy to enable the striker to settle into life in England much quicker.
It this deal gets done, which Graham seems to believe it should, then it would be an exciting signing nonetheless.