Sunderland must create new twist in Kieffer Moore and Jay Stansfield saga: View | OneFootball

It is no secret that Sunderland's strikers have struggled in front of goal under their three different managers this season.

Despite signing Nazariy Rusyn, Mason Burstow, Eliezer Mayenda and Luis Semedo last summer, just three of the Black Cats' 52 league goals have been scored by forwards so far.

None of their frontmen have been able to replicate the scoring form of Ross Stewart, who netted 34 league goals across two seasons at the Stadium of Light before joining Southampton last summer.

The club did not dip into the transfer market for a new forward in January, but BBC journalist Nick Barnes recently revealed that both Kieffer Moore, then at Bournemouth, and Birmingham loanee Jay Stansfield have been close to a move to Wearside.

He said: "The assumption is that they have not tried to get an experienced number nine into the building. As I understand it, they had agreed a deal with Bournemouth for Kieffer Moore but that fell through because of a wrangle over wages and Ipswich came in through the back door.

"They also had a deal in place for Jay Stansfield, but that was not rubber-stamped, for whatever reason."

Both Moore and Stansfield have shone on loan at Ipswich and Birmingham respectively this season, and would likely have been a hit at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland fans desperate for a prolific striker.

With both possibly on the move from their respective parent clubs Bournemouth and Fulham in the summer, Sunderland should certainly be looking at going back in the market for either player.

Moore and Stansfield's seasons

Kieffer Moore made just eight appearances in the Premier League for Bournemouth in the first half of the season before joining promotion-chasing Ipswich Town in January, with Sunderland unable to agree wage demands with the 31-year-old.

The Wales international has scored seven goals in 17 games for the Tractor Boys in their push for promotion, with a point needed against Huddersfield Town on the final day to confirm their place in the Premier League for next season.

His experience of leading the line would have been valuable to Mike Dodds' side in the second-half of the season, with Nazariy Rusyn their current oldest striker at 25-years-old.

Jay Stansfield joined the Blues on loan from Fulham last summer, after impressing in League One with Exeter City in 2022/23.

He has netted 13 goals and notched three assists in 46 games in all competitions this season, leading his club's goalscoring charts as they look to stave off relegation.

Stansfield could have added pace and clinical striking ability to the Black Cats' ranks, but the move fell through, with intricate details unclear as to the reason why.

He would have fit into the club's transfer strategy of signing young players that they can improve, possibly sign for a smaller fee then sell on for profit - but Birmingham have instead benefitted from his talents this season.

Sunderland's striking woes

Sunderland have relied on goals from wingers and midfielders to push them away from the relegation zone, in what has been a disappointing season after failing to build on their sixth-placed finish in 2022/23.

Jack Clarke is the club's leading league scorer, with 15, whilst Jobe Bellingham has seven and Pierre Ekwah has five and Nazariy Rusyn is the leading marksman for the strikers, with two.

Chelsea loanee Mason Burstow has only netted once, while Luis Semedo and Eliezer Mayenda have not scored so far this season in 30 appearances combined.

Central midfielder Bellingham has even been deployed as a striker at times in Mike Dodds' search for goals.

From next season, Rusyn, Semedo and Mayenda will be the only senior strikers contracted to the club, and Sunderland will definitely need to sign a first-choice striker, if not two.

After coming so close to their signatures this season, Sunderland should try to sign either Moore or Stansfield for next season as they look to push back into the top-half and fight for the play-offs.