Sunderland have a new attacking name on their radar ahead of the summer transfer deadline.
Sunderland have just two weeks left of the summer transfer window, with the market closing for business on August 30th.
The Black Cats have so far signed four new players; goalkeepers Simon Moore and Blondy Nna Noukeu, and outfielders Alan Browne, and Ian Poveda.
But the club remains in desperate need of a new striker.
Earlier this month, Regis Le Bris hinted at wanting a new striker in at the Stadium of Light, despite insisting that he’s happy with his current crop of players.
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman seemingly has his sights set on a number of strikers, including Sunderland target Alexandre Mendy.
Mendy is now back in training with Caen amid an ongoing saga between the Ligue 2 club and Sunderland, apparently over the transfer fee.
Sunderland remain hopeful of signing Mendy, but a new attacking name, albeit not an out and out striker, is now being linked with a summer move to Wearside.
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Sunderland eyeing Manuel Benson at Burnley
Sunderland could look to further bolster their attacking third before August 30th, amid ongoing fears about Jack Clarke’s future at Sunderland.
The £25million-rated winger could still leave Sunderland this summer, and that’s seemingly prompted the Black Cats to take an interest in Burnley man Manuel Benson.
The 27-year-old right-sided attacker is tipped to leave Turf Moor this month, likely on loan although that’s not completely clarified, with Sunderland and Championship rivals Leeds United and Norwich City also keen.
Journalist Charlie Gordon says that Sunderland are among the teams who hold a ‘concrete interest’ in signing Angolan international Benson this summer.
Kristjaan Speakman needs to have a Sunderland trick up his sleeve
Sunderland fans have seen this far too often in the last few transfer windows; the club being in desperate need of a striker, but players in different positions arriving instead.
And Benson, whilst a good player with a good record at Championship level (11 goals and three assists in 33 Championship appearances for Burnley), is not a striker.
Speakman can’t rely on goals from wingers one again. The Sunderland sporting director simply must have a plan of action to get one or two no.9s through the doors before August 30th.
Expect Sunderland to have a long list of striker targets, as they did with managerial targets, and expect the Black Cats to keep names quiet so that they don’t eventually get out-priced or face too much competition.
Benson could still be a very useful signing for Sunderland. But a new striker should remain the absolute priority.