Sunderland are approaching the first match of the season without a senior striker.
The Black Cats snapped up four new forwards last summer, but all lacked in experience and hadn’t scored a single goal in the Championship between them.
They went onto score three goals in the second division, with Sunderland now desperate to make amends and bring in a proven No.9.
It had looked like the club would wrap up a deal for Alexandre Mendy in recent weeks, but a deal for the 30-year-old appears to have stalled, while they face huge competition for Ike Ugbo’s signature too.
It is looking less and less likely that they will have signed a new striker by next weekend – much to the supporters’ frustration.
Le Bris issues update after Ike Ugbo talks
Regis Le Bris has now issued an update on the search for a new forward, but has refused to give much away.
Speaking to Sunderland Echo, the Frenchman said: “We are working on it, it’s a process and the transfer window is complex. I spoke to a friend from Marseille, they are searching for a striker, it’s the same for everyone.”
Sunderland fans frustrated by their summer deja vu
Kristjaan Speakman has previously said a similar thing when it eventually led to Sunderland completely failing to bring in a new No.9.
The club’s claim is that there are not enough strikers around for all the Championship outfits that demand one.
While the market is undeniably inflated, that hasn’t prevented Bristol City signing Stuart Armstrong, Coventry City signing Brandon Thomas-Asante or Millwall signing Macaulay Langstaff.
If Sunderland were prepared to pay the millions then they would surely be an attractive proposal to many strikers, but it feels like they are still very hesitant to do so.
The Black Cats have drastically improved their transfer policy this summer, but it doesn’t make much of a difference if they don’t sign a striker of any age at all.
Mendy is still looking like a likely deal for Sunderland and could get done before deadline day, but it is incredibly frustrating for fans who may have to watch up to five matches with Eliezer Mayenda as the first choice to spearhead the attack.
Le Bris will surely become angered very quickly if he has to play out the campaign without a senior striker, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if that is what he is forced to do.