Sunderland transfer news latest as striker search continues
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris (R) and Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris (R) and Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman
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Sunderland's transfer business could go down to the wire amid reports of an offer for a striker.
The Black Cats are believed to be looking to offload Wilson Isidor before the window shuts as they look to free up space in their squad for a potential incoming as they aim to freshen up their attack.
Isidor is attracting serious interest in the transfer market. Turkish Süper Lig side Besiktas added him to their own list of Premier League targets as they look to find a replacement for Tammy Abraham, who joined Aston Villa this week.
According to reports from France and reliable journalist Santi Aouna, Besiktas have gone one step further by opening talks with Isidor. They have weighed up a quadruple move for the Sunderland striker along with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Tomas Soucek and Alphonse Areola.
Regis Le Bris’ side, however, want around £25million for Isidor if he is to leave this month, amid interest from Everton, which is understood to have put Beskitas off and they have cooled their interest. However, they could return before deadline day as a game of cat and mouse develops.
In the meantime, reports in Italy suggest Isidor has been offered to Napoli. Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari reports the Serie A side have been made aware of Isidor’s availability as representatives look to secure a move for the 25-year-old.
Another club who have explored a move for Isidor is Paris FC, with reports in France suggesting figures close to €25m were discussed. However, that deal is believed to have collapsed due to internal resistance at the French club.
Isidor has netted four goals across 22 appearances this season, a modest return after those goals came early in the season. Since then he has been ousted from the team by Brian Brobbey who looks much better suited to the demands of Premier League football.
Isidor played a crucial role in last season’s play-off triumph, scoring a spectacular semi-final opener against Coventry City that set the tone for Sunderland’s promotion campaign.
But then so did Dan Neil, Luke O’Nien and Anthony Patterson and that is no guarantee of keeping a place in the world’s most competitive league.
Isidor was able to produce moments of brilliance in the Championship and Le Bris might decide he is not ready to sacrifice his talent. — spectacular strikes that few teammates possess — provides a dimension Le Bris can ill afford to sacrifice mid-season.
However the Black Cats' recruitment team, led by Kristjaan Speakman, have been on the lookout for a new forward this month and will keep pushing until Monday's transfer deadline.
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