A general view of the Stadium of Light is being captured during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Millwall in Sunderland, United Kingdom, on April 20, 2024. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Premier League striker who Sunderland wanted in January ‘will leave’ amid Championship interest
Sunderland have made only one signing so far this summer.
The Black Cats snapped up Simon Moore on a free transfer to become Anthony Patterson’s understudy last month.
Regis Le Bris was appointed Sunderland manager the next day, but is yet to make his first signing as head coach.
The club are under huge pressure to perform in the transfer window, with a striker likely the main priority after a lacklustre 2023/24 campaign.
Sunderland’s four strikers scored a total of three goals last season, with Nazariy Rusyn potentially the only one who will be given a second chance.
The Wearside outfit will want to bring in a proven goalscorer though, and had already been heavily linked with a move for Kieffer Moore in January.
Reports claimed that Sunderland were one of many Championship clubs keen on the Welshman before he joined Ipswich Town on loan.
Moore went onto score seven goals in 18 games as Ipswich were promoted to the Premier League, before returning to Bournemouth this summer.
Kieffer Moore is on his way out
Sunderland have been handed a boost though, with the 31-year-old now set to leave the Vitality Stadium once again.
Journalist Darren Witcoop wrote on X: “Kieffer Moore will leave Bournemouth and is currently deciding his next move. Interest in the Wales striker from Sheffield United and former club Cardiff among others in the Championship.”
It is unclear whether Moore is leaving Bournemouth permanently, but it seems likely as he approaches the final 12 months of his contract.
The forward’s current market value is £1.7 million, so will set Sunderland back seven figures if they want to lure him to the Stadium of Light.
Would Sunderland want to splash out on the striker?
Moore is clearly a very good Championship striker, and despite his age, would be a really helpful signing for Le Bris.
After netting 54 goals in 173 matches in the second tier and almost one every two games for Ipswich, his impact is certainly one that could help the club win promotion.
But a number of clubs will know that and will be clambering after him, so it would be a big surprise if Sunderland were willing to compete in a bidding war for a man heading for his 32nd birthday next month.
The Sunderland skipper will also be in an uphill battle to persuade goalkeeper Anthony Patterson to stay at the club, fending off interest from elsewhere.
There are also uncertainties over some of the younger players in the squad who didn’t manage to perform in the 2023/24 Championship campaign, such as Luis Hemir who didn’t manage a single first team goal last season.
Sunderland fans will be eagle-eyed as they await the Black Cats’ first pre-season games on the 13th July as Le Bris will take two squads to face both Gateshead and South Shields.
