Sunderland have been excellent this season, and their win over Leeds United on Tuesday evening saw Regis Le Bris's side meet the elusive 40-point mark in the Premier League.
While the Black Cats spent big after securing promotion to the top flight last year, they are not an outlier in that regard. The difference, though, is that many outfits fall flat after forking out exorbitant sums, and this has not been the case.
Now in a strong and stable position, Sunderland are in all likelihood going to be playing Premier League football next season, and that could see them bring in further top players to stand alongside Granit Xhaka, Enzo Le Fee, Robin Roefs and the like.
However, Brian Brobbey has been absent from his striker's berth across the past two matches, and his presence has been missed.
Sunderland in talks to sign new striker
Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor have stepped in at number nine over the past few weeks. The former scored against Bournemouth, but his passing and anticipation left something to be desired. Isidor, while a strong focal point, has only scored four goals from 26 matches.
Wilson-Isidor
If Sunderland want to ascend to the next leave and build next season, this should be one of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus's main priorities at the end of the season.
Well, according to TEAMtalk, the Wearsiders are among the suitors being kept updated on the situation of Juventus forward Jonathan David, who will be allowed to leave the Allianz Stadium if the Old Lady can find a replacement.
jonathan-david-juventus
The Canadian, 26, left Lille at the end of his contract last year and joined the Italians on a free transfer. However, he hasn't quite settled, and a large number of Premier League clubs have registered their interest, with the forward revealing in 2022 that he wants to play in the English top flight, which he believes to be the best in the world, "some day".
What Jonathan David would bring to Sunderland
Sunderland have got a fantastic team, but they are perhaps lacking a first-class goalscorer. In David, they would land someone with the capacity to score so many goals across the campaign, and in that, he could even become their own version of Alexander Isak.
Alexander Isak Liverpool Graphic
Isak no longer plays for Newcastle United, having signed for Liverpool in a British record £125m deal. But he is undoubtedly one of the best goalscorers in Europe, and the Magpies' decline this season may well be a by-product of that summer sale.
For David, it was a slow start to life in Italy. But he's gotten stronger; having only scored one goal across the first four months of the Serie A season, the Canadian centre-forward has now posted four goals and three assists across his last 11 outings.
There are actually several stylistic similarities between the respective centre-forwards. International teammate Jonathan Osorio hailed him as a "superstar" for his efforts in France, and a return of 109 goals and 31 assists across only 232 matches for the French outfit led to further praise from Canadian football expert Tony Marinaro, who described him as “one of the best strikers in the world".
Moreover, his link-up play is of a level with the Swedish striker. Last season in Ligue 1, he created eight big chances, completing 83% of his passes and 50% of his dribbles.
Alexander-Isak-Newcastle
David has a considerable track record in front of goal. If Sunderland can get him to dance to Le Bris's tune and emulate one of the club's former rivals in Isak, it would only bode well for the long-term project.
Isak, after all, is one of the best forwards in the business, and this would signal a real statement of intent, lifting Sunderland higher up and confirming that they are more than just a one-hit wonder in the big time.
Top PL Scorers since Isak's Debut
Player
Erling Haaland
Mohamed Salah
Ollie Watkins
Alexander Isak
Bryan Mbeumo
Ultimately, David will have his pick of options this summer, but Sunderland have shown they have created a balanced and progressive outfit and it could bear dividends for all parties involved.
Robin-Roefs Related
[Sunderland have found a "monster" who's now on par with Roefs & Xhaka](https://www.footballfancast.com/sunderland-alderete-becoming-as-important-as-roefs-xhaka/ "Sunderland have found a "monster" who's now on par with Roefs & Xhaka")
Sunderland have settled into their position as a strong Premier League outfit under Regis Le Bris.