Sunderland face competition from Championship rivals for 28-year-old in January

There is a lot of competition for Sunderland to sign a 28-year-old forward.

 

Sunderland face a significant challenge to find a proven goalscorer this month, with the club not no longer prepared to rely on the likes of Nazariy Rusyn and Mason Burstow.

The Black Cats remain in pursuit of Bournemouth’s Kieffer Moore, but another name that has been touted is Sam Gallagher.

 

Having made just two starts in the Championship this season, it was claimed earlier this week that the Blackburn Rovers forward is among several names on Sunderland’s shortlist.

 

Since moving to Blackburn from Southampton in 2019, Gallagher has

helped the team with 21 assists and 45 goals. Despite this, he has only ever scored in double figures in the league

once, which was during his loan stint at Ewood Park in the 2016–17 season.

Gallagher has fallen behind Harry Leonard in the standings after scoring eight goals in the Championship the previous season. He has played in just 243 minutes and only scored once in August.

 

Sunderland is still interested in signing the 28-year-old despite his failures for Blackburn in order to address their own goalscoring issues. Ipswich Town, though, will present them with fierce challenge.

 

Journalist Alan Nixon claims that in their attempt to advance, Kieran McKenna’s

team is keen to add Gallagher as a “extra option.”

Speaking on his Patreon, Nixon said: “Ipswich want to sign Blackburn striker Sam Gallagher – but face a struggle to land him.

 

“Rovers would let Gallagher leave to get his wages off the payroll and Ipswich

hope for permission to speak to him. But his salary may be a big problem.

 

“Gallagher is also on Sunderland’s hit list while Ipswich are still hoping Jay

Stansfield’s loan move at Birmingham City can be hijacked.”

Meanwhile, PA Media journalist Nick Mashiter has stated that Blackburn have

already rejected two approaches from Ipswich for the forward – considered to be worth up to £1.5m.

 

Gallagher is reported to be making roughly £14,000-per-week with Rovers –

not far off Sunderland’s top earner Jack Clarke.

Is Sam Gallagher the answer?

Sunderland should still have around £10m from Ross Stewart’s summer exit,

so they should be able to compete with other teams for top strikers this month –

but Sam Gallagher is surely not where the money should be spent.

The Southampton academy graduate has only ever reached double digits in the league on one occasion – and he made

his senior debut for Southampton eleven years ago.

Considering that he turns 29 this year as well, he doesn’t seem worth the amount

that he will probably fetch at the end of the year.

 

This month, the Black Cats shouldn’t panic purchase since, despite Gallagher’s

extensive expertise, he may not have the goals to support it.

 

Kieffer Moore appears to be our best option even if it wouldn’t be a long-term

fix. He honestly seems like one of the very few people who could actually push

us for a promotion charge, so it will be a significant challenge.