Sunderland could win striker battle with £4.2m bid after director’s admission

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Sunderland face competition from Dinamo Zagreb for Matija Frigan but the Championship outfit can win the race if they offer in excess of £4 million for the Croatia U21 international. 

Tony Mowbray has made no secret of his desire to bring a new centre-forward to the Stadium of Light. And with good reason.

Joe Gelhardt has returned to Leeds United after last season’s loan spell, while Ross Stewart has already been ruled out of the Championship opener against newly-promoted Ipswich Town in just three weeks’ time.

And – after reportedly missing out on Bordeaux’s Zan Vipotnik – Sunderland‘s pursuit of a goalscorer appears to have led them all the way to Croatia; Sportske Novosti reporting that the Black Cats have failed with an opening offer of £3.4 million for Matija Frigan. 

Sunderland need a new striker with Matija Frigan a target

Frigan featured for Croatia at the recent U21 European Championships. He also managed almost a goal every other game in 2022/23 (15 in 31 for HNK Rijeka). 

And while Sunderland appear to have dodged a battle with Rangers – the Scottish giants bringing in Cyriel Dessers from Cremonese – there is still the potential of a transfer tussle with the perennial Croatian champions. 

“We don’t give up (on Frigan),” Dario Simic, a board member at Dinamo Zagreb, tells Sportske Novosti. 

“While the transfer window is open, all options are open. But, I repeat, we are careful. We don’t want to waste money, but invest wisely.

it remains to be seen how much Rijeka want, having rejected Sunderland’s opening offer. Last season’s play-off semi-finalists can blow Dinamo Zagreb out the water, however, by going over the £4.2 million mark. 

“There is no fixed figure (we can pay),” Simic adds. “This, of course, depends on the market and the player himself. Which league, which club, the age of the player…

“We can’t say that Dinamo won’t pay over 3 million euros. But, then again, we know that we can’t afford reinforcements at a price higher than five, six or seven million euros because we need to be realistic.”