Sunderland remain in search of a new striker this summer.
Sunderland have had no luck with strikers in the past two years.
Following their return to the Championship in 2022, the striker situation at the Stadium of Light quickly turned from good to bad.
Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms led the line. But Stewart soon picked up the first of a few serious injuries and Simms was then recalled by Everton.
Since, the Black Cats have lacked an out and out no.9. Kristjaan Speakman says Sunderland will sign a new striker this summer but so far, one is yet to arrive.
Speaking on Thursday, Regis Le Bris discussed the Sunderland striker search, suggesting that he’s happy with his current options but hinting that he still wants at least one new striker this summer.
One striker linked with Sunderland this summer is Caen’s Alexandre Mendy.
Sunderland made a bid for Mendy earlier in the summer, but it appears as though the bid fell well short of Caen’s reported £4million valuation of the 30-year-old.
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Alexandre Mendy to Sunderland latest
The latest on the Mendy front is that Caen now want to keep the striker, who scored 22 goals in Ligue 2 last season and won the league’s Golden Boot.
French journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter has revealed on X that Caen, who have recently received investment from Kylian Mbappe, ‘wants to keep’ Mendy.
Toubache-Ter adds that the ‘Sunderland offer is ridiculous’, after it was claimed that Sunderland tabled less than seven-figures for the striker.
Mendy recently released a statement on his future, clearly outlining his desire to leave Caen.
Time for Sunderland and Kristjaan Speakman to put some money on the table
Last week, reported Sunderland target Ike Ugbo completed a £3million move to Sheffield Wednesday.
Now it looks like Sunderland have spent too long pondering a bargain move for Mendy.
So for Speakman and Sunderland, it’s clear that now is the time to put some money on the table.
Good strikers don’t come cheap. Speakman is too focused on unearthing a gem on the cheap, which is great when it works out, but frustrating when it doesn’t.
It didn’t work out last summer when Speakman brought in Luis Hemir and Nazariy Rusyn.
Now, for the sake of Le Bris’ tenure, Speakman and the Sunderland owners really need to seriously consider spending big on a striker.
It’d be a good investment to sign a striker who could go on to score 15 or 20 goals in a Championship campaign, but whether or not the club are ready to do so remains to be seen.