Sunderland are reportedly interested in signing a Champions League attacker.
The Black Cats wrapped up a permanent deal for Ian Poveda yesterday, with the winger arriving on a free transfer.
The Colombian spent the second half of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and really impressed, before he was released by Leeds United.
Poveda joins the likes of Abdoullah Ba and Patrick Roberts battling it out for a place on the right, while the future of the left wing remains in doubt.
Jack Clarke was one of the first names on the team-sheet last term, but heavy interest from the Premier League could force the club to sell up.
It now appears that Sunderland could be preparing for life without Clarke and have already been ‘in contact’ with another young winger.
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Sunderland ‘contact’ Finnish ‘Rookie of the Year’
According to Finnish news outlet MTV Uutiset, the Black Cats are interested in signing Helsinki youngster Topi Keskinen.
The report claims Sunderland have already been in contact with HJK, while Middlesbrough are also eager to snap him up.
Keskinen joined the Finnish giants last year and quickly made his mark, racking up 14 goals and 14 assists in 66 matches.
The 21-year-old has also made six appearances in the Champions League and scored his first goal in Europe against Norwegian outfit Molde FK.
He helped HJK to the league title last season and was named the Veikkausliiga’s Rookie of the Year. He has now managed eight goal contributions in the opening 16 matches of the 2024 campaign.
Blackburn and Aberdeen reportedly bid for Keskinen in January but failed to land him, with the club wanting seven figures for the youngster.
Can Topi Keskinen replace Jack Clarke?
Keskinen is clearly a very promising winger in Finland and could well be good enough to play in England one day.
However, it seems like a huge risk to replace one of the best players in the Championship with a 21-year-old who has never left his home country.
Nazariy Rusyn was prolific in Ukraine but is yet to bring that form into the Championship and that could be the same with Keskinen.
Sunderland don’t really have time to wait for him to settle into life in a new country, as Clarke needs replacing instantly if the club are to finally return to the Premier League.