Sunderland appear to be closing in on a new striker.
Signing a striker has been on Sunderland’s to-do list all summer, but sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is yet to sign one.
The Black Cats’ summer transfer business was slightly delayed due to the appointment of Regis Le Bris at the Stadium of Light.
But Le Bris has since started well at Sunderland, and the Black Cats now look as though they’re really pushing for new signings.
A striker remains the priority for Speakman despite Eliezer Mayenda scoring twice in the 4-0 win vs Sheffield Wednesday last time out.
And Sunderland target Alexandre Mendy is still a wanted man on Wearside. Sunderland though have also been linked with Zenit striker Wilson Isidor.
Speakman appears to have plenty of options and plenty of irons in the fire too, with another striker now reportedly on his radar, and reportedly on Wearside ahead of a proposed move to Sunderland.
Red Bull Salzburg striker Roko Simic awaiting Sunderland medical
Reports coming out of Croatia claim that Croatian forward Roko Simic is set to undergo a medical with Sunderland ahead of a proposed move from Red Bull Salzburg.
Simic, 20, scored five goals in 28 Austrian Bundesliga outings last season, with Salzburg losing out the title to Sturm Graz.
Croatian outlet Germanijak reports that Simic ‘travelled to Sunderland where he is awaiting the last round of negotiations and a medical examination’.
Simic began his career in his native Croatia with Lokomotiv Zagreb, then joining Red Bull Salzburg in 2021.
Simic, who stands at 6ft 3ins, has represented Croatia at U15, 16, 17, and U21 level.
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Sunderland striker search starts to heat up
If Sunderland can get more than one striker through the doors this summer, then it’ll be a job well done by Speakman and the Sunderland owners.
And it looks as though a deal for Simic is quite far down the line, and it may suggest that Speakman will now only try to sign one of Mendy or Isidor.
With Mendy being the long-term target, it looks like Sunderland’s interest in Isidor might well have been a passing interest.
Or it could well have been a ploy to tempt Caen into lowering their valuation of Mendy so that they can get rid of the wantaway striker.
The same could be said of Simic, though with the player reportedly on Wearside, it may be that a deal for the youngster is well down the line.