Just before things went belly-up in France for the England national team, leading to Roy Hodgson’s departure and Sam Allardyce’s brief spell as England manager, Sunderland were rebuilding their side ahead of the 2016-17 season.
Striking options were a top priority, as Jermain Defoe was almost single-handedly carrying the team’s goalscoring burden. In the 2015-16 season, Defoe notched fifteen goals, while other strikers Steven Fletcher, Dame N’Doye, and Danny Graham fell far short of that total.
Allardyce was keen to sign a new centre-forward, with reports linking him to several options. One prominent target was West Ham’s Diafra Sakho, whom Allardyce had coached before. However, the £15m valuation deterred the club, given Ellis Short’s reluctance to spend and Sakho’s modest goalscoring record.
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With Defoe as the main man, Sunderland sought a foil to do the dirty work alongside the England international. This led to interest in target men like Swansea’s Bafétimbi Gomis and André Ayew, who were under consideration if the deal was right.
A left-field option was former Manchester City striker Edin Džeko. Years earlier, Sunderland had been linked with Džeko before his City move, but by 2016, he was a proven goalscorer - and far more expensive. An ambitious enquiry emerged after Džeko struggled to settle at AS Roma, with the Italian club reportedly willing to offload him for £11m. However, his £130,000-a-week wages were a major stumbling block.
Reports on this day revealed Džeko had no interest in joining Sunderland, preferring a club playing European football:
> _The Black Cats have expressed interest in the 30-year-old striker as Allardyce looks to bolster his attack before the new season. But Džeko, who endured a frustrating first season in Italy, is cool on a switch to the Stadium of Light, and Sunderland would need to meet his £130,000-a-week wage demands._
That effectively ended the tedious Džeko links, but bigger changes loomed on Wearside. Player transfers were just one of many challenges the club would face.