Despite “significant efforts,” Sunderland was unable to add two strikers in January.

Right now, every team could use a goal-scoring forward. But maybe more than most, Sunderland.

This has been the situation since the beginning of the previous campaign, as the Black Cats frequently rely on goals from midfielders like Jack Clarke to get by.

Although he has 15 goals in the Championship so far this year, Sunderland is definitely suffering because of Clarke’s injury.

Summertime acquisitions Together, Mason Burstow, Nazariy Rusyn, and Luis Hemir have just three Championship goals this year.

It’s leading into yet another transfer window where a new striker will be the key aim for Sunderland. But it turns out they tried quite hard for a new striker in January.

Kristjaan Speakman says Sunderland made ‘significant efforts’ to sign strikers in JanuaryThe minutes of a Supporters’ Collective meeting that Sunderland hosted earlier this month were made public this week.

One intriguing finding concerned the club’s attempts to sign a new striker during the January transfer window, among other things.

The text of the note says:

“KS [sporting director Kristjaan Speakman] said that the Club worked hard in January to recruit two forwards, even if the signing came with hefty prices. Regretfully, they were unable to finalize these agreements due to factors outside the Club’s jurisdiction, such as the personal inclinations of the players and their parent Clubs. One of these players was older than thirty, which was previously mentioned.

Kieffer Moore was one player with whom Sunderland had strong links; Moore ultimately joined Ipswich Town, but Sunderland sought a loan arrangement for him.

Since then, in ten Championship appearances for the Tractor Boys, the 31-year-old Welsh international has netted six goals.

Causes beyond the club’s jurisdiction are inadmissible.

As Speakman points out, it’s probably fair to presume that certain things happen in transfer deals that the buying club cannot avoid.

Moore might be one of the strikers he’s talking about, and it’s possible that he chose to sign with Ipswich personally.
However, Sunderland must get ready for these results.
As we’ve seen at the Stadium of Light, the club would be shorthanded if they reject the approach, so they need to have a long list of possible players that they can sift through rather than depending on a small number.

Of course, this is easier said than done, and Sunderland’s summer transfer plans may have to wait for the appointment of a new manager in the summer.

However, since Burstow’s loan is coming to an end and neither Rusyn nor Hemir are showing much promise, a new striker will still be required come summer.

GET MORE NEWS HERE