Football League World
·14 August 2024
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·14 August 2024
Bournemouth striker Daniel Jebbison has been linked with a loan move to the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland are keen on signing a new striker before the end of the summer transfer window, with the Black Cats exploring the loan market in their search for a forward.
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris handed Eliezer Mayenda a start on the opening day of the season against Cardiff City, ahead of Nazariy Rusyn and Luis 'Hemir' Semedo, but the 19-year-old forward missed a gilt-edged opportunity to double his side's lead after Jobe Bellingham had put him one on one with the keeper, before Jack Clarke did put the seal on victory later in the game.
The Black Cats are in the market for a new striker, and were linked with a loan move for Tottenham Hotspur striker Dane Scarlett prior to him joining Oxford United. Chelsea striker Mason Burstow had an underwhelming loan spell on Wearside last season, and the Sunderland supporters will hope that a new striker can make more of an impact this time around.
Le Bris is confident that Sunderland will make a breakthrough in their hunt for a forward, amid rumours that they are interested in signing Daniel Jebbison from Bournemouth on loan, after the 21-year-old joined the Cherries from Sheffield United earlier this summer.
Football League World's Sunderland fan pundit, Travis Martin, believes that the club needs to invest in a new striker rather than delve into the loan market once again.
"If I'm being honest, I looked at Daniel Jebbison and Dane Scarlett when they were linked with the club and just thought of Mason Burstow and Joe Gelhardt in previous seasons," said Martin.
"Young players, not players who are known to be very prolific at the level, players who lack the ability to hold up play against strong central defenders, especially when you're playing away from home at places like Kenilworth Road and The Den this season - it's going to be really difficult.
"Players who have lacked that knack of scoring goals that you require in the Championship. Don't get me wrong, I'm not naive, I realise signing someone who's going to score more than 15 goals in the Championship this season is going to come at a significant cost, but it really is about time that we go and spend that money.
"It's getting a little bit ridiculous that we're one of the few teams in the Championship now that haven't spent any money whatsoever. "I understand we spent a lot of money last season, but we got it wrong so many times. You need to be willing to reinvest at the end of the day. They've got 36,000 season tickets, there's no excuse why they don't have those funds to put into the club. "There must be something wrong there for us to keep missing out on our choices on who we want first. It seems to be de ja vu again. "Jebbison will be by no means the first option. I think bringing in someone like Jebbison now, why I would line him alongside Mason Burstow and Joe Gelhardt of recent times, is they're no different to what we have at the club already. "Young players who need a bit more experience and a senior man around the dressing room, to help them progress further. We've got Nazaryi Rusyn, we've got Mayenda, we've got Luis Hemir already, who needs that senior man alongside them." "To see someone scoring goals at the club and to get that infectious spirit from them, I don't think Daniel Jebbison will bring that whatsoever. Instead, he would probably take the minutes from the bench that those guys really need.
"He's not prolific enough to lead the line for Sunderland this season."
As Martin alluded to, Sunderland should look to bring in a proven striker before the end of the transfer window. Their pursuit of SM Caen forward Alexandre Mendy has dragged on for weeks, and the move seems to be difficult to get over the line.
However, even if they cannot complete a deal for Mendy, he is the right profile of striker that they should be looking for. An experienced, proven goalscorer is just what the Black Cats need to compliment their youthful strike force.
It will be interesting to see who Sunderland bring in before the end of the transfer window, but as Martin explained, Jebbison's goal record means he may not be the right man.
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