Sunderland is pushing ahead with more and more new signings this summer.
Some might have expected the Black Cats to slow down the intensity of their activity after Granit Xhaka’s statement arrival on the scene, but Regis Le Bris’ men are closing in on yet another exciting deal in the form of Chelsea hotshot Marc Guiu.
Some unwelcome delays have been thrown Sunderland’s way regarding Guiu joining the Stadium of Light ranks, but all looks to still be in place for the Spaniard to eventually call Wearside his home on loan ahead of the forthcoming Premier League season.
Le Bris isn’t done here when it comes to additions up top, however, as frantic rumours continue to be churned out about Sunderland enhancing their attacking personnel.
Sunderland offered chance to sign £50m attacker
The main rumour that will have caught the attention of the Stadium of Light masses is Sunderland’s alleged interest in RB Leipzig goal machine Lois Openda.
Sky Sports’ Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg revealed early on in August that the Premier League newcomers have the clinical Belgian on their shortlist of targets, but a deal could be hard to reach, as Leipzig weigh up losing other key first-teamers in Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko.
Instead, a more viable opportunity to land a deadly marksman could soon come in trying to secure a deal for Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Of course, the obvious elephant in the room here is Mitrovic’s ex-Newcastle United loyalties, but Sunderland would be foolish to turn down an opportunity to land such a potent attacker.
Journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed that the Serbian is being offered out to a whole host of Premier League clubs as he eyes up a move away from Al-Hilal, in the wake of Darwin Nunez potentially heading to the Middle East from Liverpool.
Leeds United have been offered the £50m striker’s services, alongside the Black Cats, with Sunderland able to secure themselves an even bigger talent than Openda in front of goal if they’re able to convince Mitrovic to forget his Magpies past and defect to Wearside.
Why Mitrovic is an even better signing than Openda
Openda might well possess more credit in the bank in the here and now, as the Belgian terrorises Bundesliga defences consistently, while his Serbian counterpart plays in the much-maligned Saudi Pro League.
However, as is seen with his razor-sharp instinct against Arsenal to retrieve the ball home and slot home a finish, the 30-year-old is far more proven in the tough terrain of the Premier League, when weighed up next to Openda, away from just being a general menace wherever he’s been across his globetrotting career to date.
Premier League
129
38
11
Championship
126
85
16
Saudi Pro League
51
47
8
Jupiler Pro League
50
27
8
Indeed, when looking at the table above, it’s clear to see why Mitrovic was once dubbed a “natural-born goalscorer” by former Fulham teammate Harrison Reed, with an astounding 123 goals next to his name on English shores.
That’s before you even take into account his blistering output for Al-Hilal, where he has managed to bag a ridiculous 47 strikes from just 51 games, leaving the likes of Openda in the dust in the process, who has a lesser 41 goals next to his name in Germany.
The worry will be that his weakest return to date has fallen in the Premier League, but he will be eager to become Sunderland’s main man as the Black Cats attempt to steer themselves to safety in style.
Of course, Openda also has a reputation for being a lethal presence up top, as seen in his colossal tally of 105 career goals.
Yet, Sunderland might never get the opportunity again to win such a proven goalscoring “monster” – as he has been labelled by Saudi-based journalist Matt Monaghan for his continued heroics at Al-Hilal – as Le Bris and Co. now seriously consider snapping up the 30-year-old to gift themselves an almighty advantage in their aim to beat the drop.