Sunderland simply must bring in a proven goalscorer in the coming days. There can be no excuses.
It has never been a secret that Sunderland are short on money in this January transfer window as they look to bolster a struggling squad.
And so there can be no excuses as the Black Cats entire the final days of the window still without a senior centre forward.
Sunderland can hardly be blamed for Lewis Grabban’s recall to Bournemouth or for their decision to walk away from talks with the hesitant Chris Martin – as reported by the Chronicle.
But the club did allow James Vaughan to leave and have made little progress with targets other than Martin.
And Sunderland now face the very real possibility of battling relegation for the remainder of the season without a proven front man.
Chris Coleman may well intend to bring in a striker, but rivals Newcastle United continue to prove – in Januarys 2016, 2017 and now 2018 – that the best laid plans can be disrupted in the lottery of the transfer window.
Joel Asoro and Josh Maja have had a positive impact in recent weeks, but Sunderland have still scored only twice in the six games since Grabban played his last game in red and white.
The club’s desperate bid to avoid the drop surely cannot survive another four months with two teenagers as the only attacking options.
Sunderland simply must make an attacking signing in the coming days.
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