SUNDERLAND AGREED WITH STRIKER BUT £5M MIDDLE EAST BID COULD SCUPPER DEAL
Matija Frigan’s agent agreed a move to Sunderland but the Championship outfit’s offer of an initial £3.4 million was not enough to tempt HNK Rijeka into cashing in on their Croatia U21 international.
Though the Matija Frigan ship has not sailed quite yet, Tony Mowbray and co are certainly at risk of missing the boat.
According to Croatian publication Sportske Novosti, the much-coveted centre-forward is now courting interest from clubs capable of offering either top-flight football – in the case of La Liga side Celta Vigo – or a far greater financial package; see Middle Eastern outfit Shabab Al-Ahli.
The report adds that the offer from UAE champions includes a salary well beyond Sunderland’s means. What’s more, Shabab Al-Ahli are also willing to stump up the sort of transfer fee the Black Cats will also struggle to match. Sunderland had an offer of £3.4 million plus bonuses rejected by HNK Rijeka. Shabab Al-Ahli could now blow the Wear siders out the water with by slapping an initial £5.1 million onto the table.
Sunderland face missing out on another striker target
So Sunderland – despite reaching an agreement with Frigan’s camp – appear to find themselves back at square one in their pursuit of a new centre-forward.
Last season’s play-off semi-finalists turned to Frigan, who scored 15 goals in 31 games last term while catching the eye of Rangers, after being pipped to the post by Bordeaux for Slovenia poacher Zan Vipotnik.
Vipotnik joined Bordeaux in a £2.8 million last week. Ironically, replacing former Black Cat Josh Maja at the Matmut Atlantique.
With three weeks remaining until Sunderland kick off the new Championship campaign at home to Ipswich Town, Mowbray still does not have a replacement for the injured Ross Stewart, with former Benfica youngster Luis Semedo perhaps not ready to lead the line in England’s second tier.
Sunderland, per The Sun, could now look to test Everton’s resolve over Tom Cannon. A £3 million offer is in the pipeline for a youngster who, like Cameron Archer before him, caught the eye during a prolific loan spell at Preston North End.
