Sunderland made early steps in the summer window to recruit Enzo Le Fee, but they must continue and strengthen another part of the squad shortly.
To the astonishment of many, Sunderland not only responded quickly this month, but they also appear to have pulled off one of the better purchases of the window.
Enzo Le Fee is due to arrive on loan from Roma until the end of the season, indicating that Regis Le Bris has addressed the midfield issues he identified for his club prior to the season.
So, what comes next? Sunderland fans want a new striker, and we share that view.
Sunderland needs another striker to help Wilson Isidor. Yes, Wilson Isidor may be one of the finest scorers in the Championship, especially given his current ‘dangerous’ form, but Sunderland cannot rest on their laurels.
If Sunderland truly want to push not only for promotion, but for the Championship title this season, they need more firepower and more strength in depth.
| Statistics | Wilson Isidor (2024/25) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 23 |
| Goals | 8 |
| xG | 6.7 |
| Shots on target | 44.2% |
| Shots per 90 | 2.69 |
No successful team has ever relied solely on the goals of one player and gotten away with it, and the fact of the matter is, Wilson Isidor cannot play every single game from now until the end of the season. He needs cover and competition to maximise his own potential and for the team to thrive.
While Eliezer Mayenda has recently emerged as a ‘first-class’ player, Aaron Connolly and Nazariy Rusyn cannot be relied on to deliver, and the return of the injured Ahmed Abdullahi will not be enough to propel the Black Cats to victory.
In their hunt of a striker, do Sunderland consider the near term or the future? With Isidor only on loan until the end of the season, Sunderland may require another striker for the 2025/26 season.
That is, unless they gain promotion this year, in which case Isidor’s loan will become a permanent responsibility.
Assuming the worst, the Black Cats will need to replace Isidor this summer; this would entail either finding a competent long-term replacement now or looking for one at the end of the season.
Sunderland might consider signing Will Lankshear on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, or hoping that someone like Louie Barry will provide the goals and inventiveness required to get up, but that bet could backfire. It all relies on the Sunderland hierarchy’s current level of ambition.
If they recruit a striker who can serve them long-term while also providing goals now, they will be in a win-win situation regardless of whether they are promoted this season.
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