Sunderland have failed to announce the signing of a new striker before the 11pm deadline.
The Black Cats were linked with a long list of strikers this week, and despite missing out on a number of targets, there was still high hopes this morning.
Sunderland failed to sign Alexandre Mendy, Roko Simic and Tom Cannon in recent days, but they remained eager to snap up forwards elsewhere on deadline day.
The Wearside outfit were most hopeful of signing Lyon’s Gift Orban, but their ambitious move came to an end when he was named in their match-day squad for this evening’s win over Strasbourg.
Sunderland then looked to have very few striker options left and were said to be searching for a late move for Chelsea’s David Datro Fofana.
With that failing to materialise, it now appears they had a huge seven-figure bid for Regis Le Bris’ former player turned down.
Sunderland fail with £9m bid for Lorient striker
Ouest France journalist Baptiste Cogne wrote on X: “FC Lorient has rejected several offers from Sunderland (English D2), including one for 11 M € , for Mohamed Bamba”.
Cogne claims that Sunderland bid up to a whopping £9.3 million for Bamba, but were unable to secure his services.
Le Bris signed Bamba from Austrian side Wolfsberg in January and he went onto claim eight goals and three assists in only 16 matches in the second half of the season.
Sunderland have once again been left without their key senior striker
It’s clear that the Frenchman was eager to reunite with his former striker, but i looks like he failed to do so in the transfer window’s final hours.
Unless fans are unaware of any potential deals, it looks all but confirmed that they have officially failed to bring in a new No.9.
Sunderland have been trying to sign a new senior attacker since Ross Stewart last summer and have dramatically failed.
While some deals haven’t been in their hands, it is unbelievably frustrating that they haven’t been able to nail down a single forward.
The Black Cats have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season, but it seems highly likely that they will get to the point in the campaign where their lack of goalscorers becomes a huge issue.
As of now, it seems likely that Wilson Isidor will have to start up front, with Eliezer Mayenda used as a back-up.
It’s a big risk for Sunderland and it could still well pay off after recent performances, but if they fail to win promotion then the board will endure deserved criticism – even more than what will occur this weekend and for weeks to come.