Sunderland have now been linked with a move for this impressive 21-year-old striker ahead of the January transfer window.
Sunderland once again are in need of attacking reinforcements with none of their summer signings having hit the ground running in the Championship.
The likes of Mason Burstow, Nazariy Rusyn, and Eliezer Mayenda all joined in the summer, but none of them have scored in the Championship yet; in the last outing vs Hull City, Michael Beale started all three on the bench and played Bradley Dack as the no.9.
Now though, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has revealed that the Black Cats are keen on a potential swoop for Fulham’s Jay Stansfield, who is currently on loan at Birmingham City.
Black Cats add Jay Stansfield to January shortlist
Downie says that Stansfield, 21, is one of a handful of striker targets who Sunderland are looking at ahead of January, after trying and failing to sign the 21-year-old in the summer.
But Fulham opted to send him to Birmingham City where he’s scored seven in 21 Championship outings.
He started the season in prolific form under John Eustace scoring three in his opening five games for Blues, but since Rooney’s arrival as manager, his scoring form has dropped, and now it looks like Fulham might end his loan prematurely and find him a new home for the second half of the season.
Downie posted on X:
But Downie also went on to reveal on X that Stansfield isn’t someone being prioritised by the Sunderland hierarchy and that, as of yet, no conversations have taken place re ending his loan at Birmingham City prematurely.
Fulham boss Marco Silva has described the England U21s striker as a ‘fantastic’ player.
Could Stansfield be the answer to Sunderland’s no.9 woes?
Stansfield has certainly shown his class over the past year-and-a-half.
Last season he scored nine and grabbed seven assists on loan with Exeter City in League One, making the step up to the Championship with ease this time round.
And despite playing in a poorly performing Birmingham City side, and in a whole new set up under Rooney, Stansfield remains their main source of goals.
But given Blues’ poor form, a move away from St Andrew’s now looks likely and Sunderland currently sitting in 6th place of the Championship table and lacking a no.9, looks like an attractive potential destination for the Englishman.
He’s energetic and versatile too, able to play on either flank or in a no.10 position, but Beale will want him leading the line and running at defenders, latching onto loose balls and making runs in behind.
Stansfield does all that, and he’s proven himself in the second tier this season, so bringing him in would certainly bolster Sunderland’s promotion credentials, though it seems like the Black Cats have their eyes on other targets.
Though seeing how Burstow, Mayenda, and Rusyn have all performed so far this season, fans might not have too much faith if the club brings in another unknown quantity from Europe.