Notts County development may encourage Sunderland to return for seven-figure striker: View | OneFootball

After starting the season so promisingly, Notts County’s return to the EFL has somewhat petered out over the second half of the campaign.

The Magpies were challenging for the automatic promotion places at the start of their first Football League journey for five seasons, but have fallen back into mid-table since the turn of the year.

The loss of manager Luke Williams to Swansea City hit Notts hard, with new boss Stuart Maynard as yet failing to rediscover the form that made them so imperious over the previous 18 months.

One thing that hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down is the goal-getting ability of star man Macaulay Langstaff, with the striker netting 27 times already this season; a fact that will no doubt resurrect interest from a number of clubs this summer.

Sunderland may renew interest in Notts County striker Macaulay Langstaff

It is no surprise that Langstaff has attracted a swathe of interest over the past 18 months, with his goalscoring record one of the best in the country since moving to Meadow Lane from Gateshead in 2022.

42 goals in 45 league games last season without taking a single penalty proved just how clinical he can be in front of goal, and he has continued that form in his debut season in the Football League, with nobody scoring more than him in the fourth tier this campaign.

Sunderland were said to be interested in the frontman during the January transfer window, as well as the likes of Coventry City, Bristol City and Middlesbrough, with the general consensus being that Langstaff can seamlessly make the step-up to the second tier.

Former County teammate Ruben Rodrigues has already proved that stepping up two divisions can be done with ease; with the forward showcasing his abilities for Oxford United this season by netting nine goals and assisting three more for the U's this campaign.

Langstaff’s qualities seem to know no limits at the minute though, with goals coming on a regular basis whatever division he is in, which is something the Black Cats could really benefit from in the next campaign.

There have been well-publicised striker issues at the Stadium of Light this season, with no recognised frontman finding the net until Nazariy Rusyn’s strike against Preston North End on New Year’s Day, with a reliance on the likes of Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham for goals from midfield.

With their Ukrainian forward only netting twice all season, the Mackems are calling out for a forward who can gobble up the chances that come his way from the plethora of creativity alongside him in the final third, and Langstaff could be that man.

A record of 0.63 goals per 90 isn’t one to be sniffed at at any level of football, and with the added quality around him once he makes the move to a higher division, you can only imagine that the striker will be back among the goals if he did move to Wearside.

Macaulay Langstaff contract information, Notts County transfer valuation

The Stockton-born forward was said to be valued at £1.5 million by Notts at the start of the year, although the Magpies will likely be holding out for even more after another sensational campaign in front of goal.

With a similar amount of money said to have been spent on Rusyn [pictured] last summer, Sunderland definitely have the cash to splash when the transfer window opens, and they can be pretty certain that this investment will bring goals with it.

The forward has a contract at Meadow Lane until the summer of 2027, having signed a new deal with the club last August, meaning his current club will have the final say in whatever happens during the off-season about his future.

With County stumbling in their aims for fighting for promotion this season, it could well pave the way for their main man to be out the door in the summer; he won’t be short of offers if he chooses to do so, and Sunderland will have to act quick if they are to make him theirs.