Sunderland cannot allow transfer saga to become Will Still 2.0: View | OneFootball

Sunderland cannot allow their Alexandre Mendy transfer saga to roll on much longer, or they will risk a repeat of Will Still situation.

While Sunderland will take confidence from their impressive opening day victory over Cardiff City, it cannot distract from their transfer saga of the summer.

The Black Cats defeated Cardiff 2-0 at the Cardiff City stadium in what was their first opening day victory in the second tier, since the 1998/99 season. Goals from Luke O'Nien and Jack Clarke helped Regis Le Bris to his first win as Sunderland boss.

The result drew attention away from the saga to end all sagas: Sunderland's never-ending striker search. However, Eliezer Mayenda's miss was a timely reminder of where the Wearsiders' weaknesses lie.

Sunderland's pursuit of SM Caen forward, Alexandre Mendy, has dragged on for weeks, with the player and his agent putting out separate statements to French outlet, Foot Mercato. Despite the player's desire to move to the North East, the move is proving increasingly difficult to get over the line.

While the club are seemingly desperate for the Frenchman's services, they cannot allow the situation to evolve into another rendition of their recent manager saga, involving Will Still.

The Black Cats must target strikers beyond Mendy

Without doubt, Mendy is the player Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman want. The 30-year-old fits the bill with his experience and prolific record in Ligue 2 over the last three seasons. However, the deal has stalled, and the time has come for them to seek other options.

Judging from their reported interest in Ike Ugbo, as per The Sheffield Star, Sunderland's hierarchy have decided to look elsewhere. However, the club's interest in Ugbo came too late. The forward has since signed with Championship rivals, Sheffield Wednesday, where he claimed he had his heart set on.

Ugbo impressed during his six-month loan spell at Wednesday, where he scored seven goals in eighteen appearances. Without his contributions, the Owls would likely be playing League One football this season. At 25 years of age, Ugbo is entering his prime, and Sunderland may regret not moving for the striker earlier.

The Black Cats will have to turn their interest elsewhere and were recently credited with an interest in Tottenham Hotspur's Will Lankshear, as per GiveMeSport.

The 19-year-old striker has been prolific at youth level for Spurs, having joined from Sheffield United. Lankshear has a combined 29 goals in 37 matches across under 18 and 21 level and has also scored three goals in five appearances at international level for England under 19s.

Despite his stellar record at youth level, Lankshear is unproven at senior level and is of a similar stature to current Black Cats, Mayenda and Luis 'Hemir' Semedo. Although Lankshear would add quality up front, the club should still persist with securing a proven, experienced goalscorer.

Will Still pursuit cost Sunderland precious time

Sunderland cannot afford for their pursuit of Mendy to replicate what happened with Will Still.

Having sacked Michael Beale in February, Sunderland endured a manager search which accumulated 124 days. Mike Dodds was given the job as caretaker manager after Beale's departure, but the club plummeted with him at the helm, finishing the season in 16th place.

Rightly, the club wanted to make the right decision to ensure Sunderland did not face the same fate as the previous season. When Beale was sacked, Still was the favourite for the job but due to his contract with Reims, the club were unable to prize him away.

Naturally, Still became the favourite for the job again when he left his role at the French club. At one point, it seemed certain that the 31-year-old was set to become the new Black Cats boss. However, Sunderland were struck a blow when Still signed on as manager of RC Lens.

The club's pursuit of still had cost them, with no manager in place to take over pre-season. Ultimately, the club were able to appoint Regis Le Bris, who had been relegated with FC Lorient last season. Le Bris was not Kyril-Louis Dreyfus' first choice but he could yet prove to a success on Wearside.

Although the club were able to obtain a manager, it cost the club precious time, and they were not able to appoint who they desired. The Mendy situation is dangerously starting to mirror what happened with Still, and the club will want to avoid that.

With under three weeks to go until the transfer window closes, time is running out for Sunderland's pursuit of a prolific striker.

Although the club has pursued Mendy for considerable time, a deal to bring him to Wearside is not materialising. With time of the essence, the club cannot afford for the transfer saga to roll on much longer.

In a situation that is close to mirroring what happened with Still, the club must ensure they start looking to do business elsewhere.