Sunderland are edging ever closer to the new hotly anticipated Premier League season, which kicks off against West Ham United at the Stadium of Light.
The loyal Wearside masses have already been treated to some pre-season action on home turf, however, as Regis Le Bris’ men recently clashed with Spanish opposition in the form of Real Betis, culminating in a 1-0 loss for the new top-flight hosts.
Only two more friendlies now remain for the Black Cats before matches become a lot more serious, as more fresh signings are presumably lined up to give Le Bris and Co. the best possible shot at immediate safety.
Sunderland’s ongoing striker pursuit
Sunderland do look to be in the market for another striker ahead of the Hammers coming to Wearside.
A deal for Marc Guiu to leave Chelsea behind temporarily to move to the Black Cats on loan looked to have been all tied up; however, some unneeded setbacks, such as the Spaniard’s flight to England being postponed, have now delayed this deal from being officially confirmed.
Still, it is expected that the Blues’ attacking sensation will move to Sunderland shortly, moving swiftly on from these hiccups.
He might not be the only addition up top, though, with new reports now even suggesting that ex-Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrovic could return to the Premier League with Sunderland, as he plans an exit route out of his current employers Al-Hilal.
However, there is another out-there name still floating about when it comes to boosting the Black Cats’ attacking personnel, with Le Bris potentially securing his very own Alexander Isak if the statement move was clinched.
The £51m signing who could be Le Bris’ own Isak
Of course, this is the hectic time of the transfer window when various rumours are being spread like wildfire.
One recent speculative shout has come courtesy of Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, who stated earlier this month – via X – that Sunderland had shortlisted RB Leipzig marksman Lois Openda as a potential striker recruit.
These rumours have since been somewhat dismissed, but nothing should be completely taken off the table when it comes to Sunderland and their spending power, as seen in them being able to land Granit Xhaka in a statement £17m deal.
Therefore, this could be a dream move that whirs into motion as Sunderland attempt to secure safety in style, knowing they have a rapid and clinical finishing machine in their ranks, similar to Isak lining up for the Black Cats’ mortal enemy in Newcastle United.
Much like the in-demand Swede, Openda has been a regular source of goals wherever he’s been across his extensive career to date, with the entertaining Belgian up to 105 goals now across his playing days that have seen him ply his trade in his native homeland, alongside France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Isak was similarly well-travelled before moving to Tyneside and establishing himself as a potent Premier League goalscorer, with a whopping 72 career strikes next to his name playing in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden, before fine-tuning his lethal game even more under Eddie Howe’s wing.
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Openda’s numbers vs Isak’s numbers (over the last year) |
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|---|---|---|
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Stat – per 90 mins |
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|
Shots |
2.76 |
3.10 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
2.33 |
3.00 |
|
Progressive passes |
1.61 |
2.87 |
|
Progressive carries |
1.98 |
2.71 |
|
Successful take-ons |
0.78 |
1.37 |
|
Touches in attacking penalty area |
5.14 |
6.17 |
|
Stats by FBref |
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Indeed, Isak is now 62 goals and down for the Toon, and while Openda lags behind with a lesser 42 strikes of his own for Leipzig, he isn’t a million miles off the frightening levels the Scandinavian reaches week in week out, with FBref even noting their similarities across the last year when glancing at the table above.
With Openda also being dubbed as “uncomfortable” to come up against by ex-Leipzig boss Marco Rose, alongside being branded as “terrifying” to contain by football journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor, it will just be up to the £51m striker whether he can handle the pressures of the Premier League in the same unerring fashion as Isak if a move is sealed.
If he can do that, just this time on Wearside over Tyneside, he could be exactly what Le Bris needs in the centre-forward department to clinch vital wins, pushing Sunderland way away from the punishing Premier League drop-zone subsequently.
