Sunderland are said to be considering reinforcements at the point of attack.
Some platitudes are platitudes for a reason. Take “goals win games”, for instance, because of course they do. Across the entire, incalculably broad history of football, no team has ever taken three points from a 0-0 draw.
You get the impression, however, that if it was possible, Regis Le Bris would be more than happy to. His is a Sunderland side that has, in its own way, taken the Premier League by storm this season, thanks in large part to a foundational principle of unerring defensive solidity. The Black Cats put the “Reg” in regimented, and have proven themselves to be as organised as they are full-blooded.
At the time of writing, only the top three - Arsenal, Manchester City, and Aston Villa - have conceded fewer times in the top flight this term, and Sunderland’s record is only enhanced further by their status as a newly promoted club. In the wake of that long-awaited promotion last summer, the need for experienced, physically imposing reinforcements at the back was identified and acted upon swiftly and to great effect.
But whereas Le Bris’ backline underwent wholesale renovations, his options at the point of attack were left comparatively unaltered. Yes, Brian Brobbey arrived on deadline day from Dutch giants Ajax, but elsewhere, faith was shown in the capabilities of Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda to make the adjustment to life in the Premier League. There are perhaps debates to be had over the fruitfulness of that approach.
While Isidor began the new season at a canter, scoring four goals in his first nine outings, he hasn’t found the back of the net since late October, and Mayenda’s solitary top flight strike thus far came on the opening weekend. For his part, Brobbey - as bullishly impressive as he has been of late - is still on a relatively modest five goals for the campaign.
And it is within this context that online outlet Football Insider claim Sunderland are looking to “accelerate” a deal for another centre-forward ahead of the summer window. As per this latest report: “Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris is keen to ensure that his team do not stand still after an impressive return to the Premier League this term, and he has identified the attack as a key area for improvement ahead of 2026/27.”
Now, whether that is actually the case remains to be seen, but certainly, it would be understandable if transfer chief Florent Ghisolfi was indeed casting his eye around the European game for another option in the final third.
Brobbey has emerged as Le Bris’ de facto number nine, and with good reason, but behind him, Isidor - a fine talent evidently capable of the magnificent - looks to be searching for the consistency that would elevate his game to the next level. As for Mayenda, given his age and relative inexperience, patience is required.
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Factor in simmering speculation pertaining to Isidor’s supposed frustration at his diminished role on Wearside, and it is not an impossibility that he leaves over the coming months. If that were to happen, Sunderland would surely find themselves in the market for a replacement, almost automatically.
Last year, when Sunderland were still getting to grips with what it would take to secure their survival this season, it felt as if a judgment call was made; make Le Bris’ side as hard to beat as possible, and build from there. To that end, mission accomplished.
Now that aspirations are beginning to burgeon, however, it is only natural that the next stage of the Black Cats’ recruitment project focuses on the areas of the pitch that could still stand to benefit from a little bit of refinement and rejuvenation. The point of attack would seemingly fit that bill.
Because if Sunderland are to continue on their current trajectory in the Premier League, then the next logical step is for them to not only become hard to beat, but to start beating their opponents comprehensively on a more frequent basis too. Another striker certainly wouldn’t hurt in that regard. After all, goals win games.
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