Sunderland managed to carry an finish to their four-year stint in League One on the finish of final season as they managed to win promotion again to the Championship by way of the play-offs.
One determine that performed a big half within the Black Cats’ promotion is Ross Stewart, who played extra minutes within the league final season than anybody else on the Wearside membership.
As the one participant to characteristic in all 46 league video games previous to the play-offs, the striker ended up scoring 24 objectives in complete, leaving solely Will Keane (26) with extra objectives scored in League One.
With Alex Neil’s aspect having began their marketing campaign with a 1-1 draw in opposition to Coventry Metropolis the place they spent the vast majority of the sport in entrance of their opponents, the remaining weeks of the summer season switch window may give the Black Cats the possibility so as to add some additional firepower to their aspect.
One participant that has been mentioned with a transfer to the Stadium of Mild that might not solely strengthen Sunderland’s squad but additionally give Neil the possibility to type a scary duo alongside Stewart is Matthew Hoppe.
After beginning his profession in his residence nation of America, the striker joined Schalke’s U19 squad the place he went on to attain 12 objectives in 60 appearances for the German membership throughout their youth and senior sides.
Do Sunderland have to signal one other striker?
The earlier summer season switch window noticed the 21-year-old make a move to Spain to hyperlink up together with his present membership Mallorca, who paid a reported charge of €3m (£2.5m) to signal him.
With just one begin in five La Liga appearances final season, this might make a transfer to England to affix a giant membership like Sunderland a tempting one for the younger centre-forward.
To additional spotlight what kind of participant he’s, soccer expertise scout, Jacek Kulig, described him as a “full” ahead, in addition to together with his ending, intuition, heading, hold-up play, off-the-ball motion, composure and ambidexterity as Hoppe’s foremost strengths.
Taking his earlier goalscoring efforts in Germany and a hefty record of strengths under consideration, it will not solely make him a perfect addition to Sunderland’s squad, but additionally the right companion for Stewart.
That’s one thing that will certainly strike concern into many opposition defences, thus giving the Black Cats a terrific likelihood of getting a profitable season within the second division.