Sunderland may have a better replacement lined up for Kieffer Moore.
Sunderland are making progress in the Championship, and new boss Michael Beale has guided the club back into the playoff picture. The Black Cats, on the other hand, are only a point ahead.
The Wearside club’s difficulties in front of goal have resurfaced under Beale, like they did during Tony Mowbray’s tenure. Sunderland are in the bottom part of the rankings in terms of league goals scored this season.
Nonetheless, with the January transfer window open, Beale might go shopping for some much-needed attacking talent.
Jay Stansfield has joined Sunderland on loan
Sunderland have been linked with a move for Bournemouth centre-forward Kieffer Moore in recent days, with The Sun reporting that the Black Cats are presently leading a race with several other Championship clubs for the Wales international.
Sunderland were rumored to be interested in bringing Fulham centre-forward Jay Stansfield to the Stadium of Light to be Beale’s first-choice striker for the remainder of the season, terminating his loan spell with Birmingham City.
However, it was widely assumed that Ipswich Town would emerge victorious in their pursuit of the 21-year-old’s signature. Nonetheless, no deal has been completed with the Tractor Boys, which means Sunderland still have a chance to sign the teenage striker.
Stansfield, who is said to be on a £10k-per-week contract, may be a very affordable option on loan until the end of the seaso
Stats for Jay Stansfield this season
Sunderland are currently looking for a centre-forward with Championship experience who can produce goals at this level. Stansfield meets both of these requirements. Despite Birmingham’s struggles on the field, particularly during Wayne Rooney’s spell at St. Andrew’s, the former Exeter City loanee has seven goals and two assists in 23 appearances in England’s second tier.
Sunderland’s number nine position has been the team’s weakest link this season. This season, the ex-Premier League club has five different frontmen on their books: Nazariy Rusyn, Mason Burstow, Eliezer Mayenda, Hemir Semedo, and Jewison Bennette. They have only scored one goal between them, which was scored by Rusyn in a 2-0 win over Preston North End on New Year’s Day.
This season, Jack Clarke has been the club’s talisman, scoring 12 goals in 26 games and accounting for 33.3% of Sunderland’s league goals. Beale has to add talent up front to relieve Clarke of the goal-scoring responsibility.
Moore has been a productive goalscorer in the Championship in the past, scoring 47 times in 155 Championship outings, but he is now 30 and has poorer stats than Stansfield this season.
Stansfield is younger, hungrier, and appears to be a natural finisher already, with Fulham manager Marco Silva noting that the attacker “can score easily,” which is supported by his seven goals this season.
To comply with the club’s current recruitment policy of signing young players, the Black Cats should throw everything at Fulham to sign Stansfield on loan for the remainder of the season.
