Sunderland adds’monster’ Championship striker to their list of transfer targets.

Sunderland have compiled a shortlist of strikers they hope to sign this month.

The main issue for Sunderland this season has been a lack of goals from their strikers.

Tony Mowbray appeared to have addressed that issue this summer by signing Luis Semedo, Nazariy Rusyn, Eliezer Mayenda, and Mason Burstow.

However, none of them has made an immediate impact at the Stadium of Light.

While Jack Clarke has 12 goals from the left flank, Rusyn is the only striker to have scored for Sunderland, and he did so on New Year’s Day in a 2-0 win over Preston North End.

The club is looking for a more experienced forward to supplement the four that were signed this summer.

Sunderland have previously been linked with Fulham striker Jay Stansfield and Hearts goal machine Lawrence Shankland, with Bournemouth target Kieffer Moore the most recent name to be mentioned.
Sunderland have held preliminary talks about a potential move for Moore, while Michael Beale awaits a decision from the Cherries.

According to the Northern Echo, the 31-year-old is currently the top target, along with Blackburn Rovers striker Sam Gallagher.

Would Sam Gallagher make a good signing?

Gallagher is a Championship veteran with 248 appearances to his credit.

Gallagher is a physical striker who does a lot of unselfish work for his team, but he has never been a prolific forward, which Sunderland fans will not like hearing.

During his time at Blackburn, he made 214 appearances and scored 45 goals.

His best season in the second tier came in 2016/17 with Rovers, but he only scored 11 goals in 43 appearances.

Unlike Moore, who has scored 39 goals in his last 94 Championship appearances, Gallagher’s clinical edge is blunted in front of goal, and he has had a difficult campaign this season.

The 28-year-old has suffered multiple injury setbacks, appearing only five times in the second tier and not making a Rovers squad since a 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough in September.

When fully fit, he can be a threat by pinning defenders, dominating aerially, and running in behind.

Tony Mowbray, who managed him at the time, described him as a “monster of a boy who can run like the wind with a rocket in his boots”.

Unfortunately, Gallagher hasn’t fit Mowbray’s description as well as he would like, and if Sunderland want their striker to score more goals, they shouldn’t turn to the Southampton academy graduate.

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