"A real Rusyn upgrade" - Sunderland should eye up QPR and Fulham duo as transfer targets | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sunderland will need to be searching for a new striker this summer if they are to compete for promotion to the Premier League next season.

The Black Cats have yet to confirm their latest head coach appointment as they continue to search for a replacement for Michael Beale.

First-team coach Mike Dodds has overseen the final few months of the campaign, but it's likely going to be an outside hire coming in to try and push the Wearside outfit back into the top six in 2024-25.

Sunderland's striker struggles in the 2023-24 season

Sunderland struggled to maintain their competitiveness compared to last year, where they reached a play-off place under Tony Mowbray.

A lack of consistent goals from their forward options has been a real issue, with the likes of Mason Burstow, Eliezer Mayenda, Luis Semedo and Nazariy Rusyn all either struggling or barely featuring.

The quartet has contributed a combined three goals between them in the Championship this season, so a new striker in the summer must be considered.

Sunderland should look at QPR and Fulham strikers for 2024-25 season

Here, two FLW writers have issued their verdict on which strikers Sunderland should prioritise pursuing in the upcoming transfer market.

Declan Harte

If Sunderland want to compete for promotion to the Premier League then they will need someone capable of consistent goals.

Finding someone who fits that mould while also still fitting the parameters of their recruitment policy is tricky.

The club wants to sign young players with potential that could become much more valuable once they’ve developed into more well-rounded and experienced players.

One potential option could be QPR’s Sinclair Armstrong.

The Ireland international has only scored three goals this season, but has generated an xG of 6.1, while also playing in a side that has been battling against relegation all year.

Under-performing that metric is a slight concern, but there’s no reason to assume it’s a serious issue to do with his finishing, rather than variance.

At 20 years of age, he is also quite a young and promising upcoming forward, so has potential to continue improving over time, and his contract situation at Loftus Road is one that the Black Cats could potentially exploit.

His deal expires this summer, although Rangers have the option for a further year which they will surely trigger.

But that leaves him with just one year left, and no long-term extension could open the door for QPR to cash in on him this summer in order to avoid losing him for nothing in 2025.

Sunderland will surely have money to spend as Jack Clarke's departure this summer is somewhat inevitable, and some of that should go towards a player that fits 'the model' like Armstrong.

If Sunderland want to be in the top six, they will have to go out and get a proven Championship goalscorer as their multiple gambles this season have not worked.

Looking down the EFL pyramid, there aren't many strikers worth considering - Macaulay Langstaff of Notts County is too much of a gamble and the League One goalscorers are much of a muchness.

Sunderland could potentially go back in for Kieffer Moore if Ipswich don't try to sign the Wales international permanently, but it may be worth testing the loan market for a player in Jay Stansfield, who has been a target for the Black Cats before.

Tony Mowbray revealed at the time that he thought the Fulham youngster would be heading to the Stadium of Light, but he opted for the Midlands with Birmingham City instead, where he has scored 12 times in 41 appearances in his first season at Championship level.

Stansfield isn't a complete 'number nine' - he is a technical, nippy forward who can also play out wide and in the '10' too, but he can definitely lead a line at Championship level, and with the players Sunderland have out wide and in midfield, he would get chances.

With Fulham having Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz competing in a lone-striker system at Craven Cottage, Stansfield should be allowed to go out on loan again, and he is the one that Sunderland should be focusing on as soon as the season has finished - a real Rusyn upgrade.