Sunderland have offered a contract to former Burton Albion forward Scott Fraser although Phil Parkinson is facing plenty of obstacles to get the deal done, according to the Northern Echo.
Given that the Scottish schemer produced nine goals and 14 assists during the 2019/20 season, including a hat-trick against Oxford that Nigel Clough described as ‘wonderful’, it is no surprise that he is a free agent in high demand.
League One Sunderland are facing Championship competition in the shape of Stoke City, although Fraser has already rejected a move to Rotherham United (Daily Record).
The Chronicle, meanwhile, reported this month that the 25-year-old might have to lower his wage demands due to a salary cap imposed on clubs in the lower leagues.
And while Sunderland have put a contract offer on the table for one of the most exciting attackers in the third-tier, there is a lot of work to be done.
“We tried to get a couple of players in before Friday, but those deals didn’t go over the line,” Parkinson says as the Black Cats continue talks with Danny Graham and Luke Garbutt too.
“It was really the agents and the players’ decision on those ones. When you’re going for players that maybe have Championship interest as well, it can be difficult because you’re competing for those players.
“We’ve had to change tack a little bit over the last couple of days, and reassess what we’re going to do.”
It remains to be seen whether Fraser finds the offer of Championship football too good to turn down.
But with the Chronicle adding that the former Dundee United forward is very interested in moving to Wearside, that appears to be one hurdle cleared at least.
Aiden O’Brien, a forward with a proven League One record at Millwall, joined Sunderland earlier this summer and he, alongside Fraser, are certainly capable of firing Parkinson’s side to promotion.
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