Sunderland transfer target looks set to depart Championship rivals after honest admission over his future

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Sunderland were heavily linked with a transfer for the striker in the January window, and he now looks set to depart Championship rivals, opening the door for a potential move.

Sunderland will face Coventry in the 2024/25 Championship play-offs semi-finals, and their fortunes in the promotion campaign will have a monumental impact on their ensuing transfer window.

If Regis Le Bris’ side were to secure Premier League promotion, Sunderland would bank a staggering fee that would massively bolster their summer transfer window spending power.

A war chest of nine figures would also help retain some crucial first-team stars they risk losing if they fail to go all the way and win the play-off final.

In January, Sunderland were linked heavily with one prolific Championship centre-forward who now looks destined to leave his current club after a telling admission, opening the door for a potential Wearside move.

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Sunderland transfer target Emil Riis Jakobsen likely to leave Preston North End

Sunderland were linked heavily with Preston North End forward Emil Riis Jakobsen in the January window, with his current Preston deal set to expire, but their interest in Jakobsen never materialised.

26-year-old Jakobsen stayed at Deepdale under Paul Heckingbottom, ending the Championship campaign on 12 goals and two assists, the same contributions record held by Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor.

After Preston’s relegation-threatened 20th finish, Jakobsen is set to depart the club he has featured 186 times for since his switch from native Randers FC.

With the second tier season curtailing in a 2-2 draw with Bristol City, when asked whether it’s the end of his time at Deepdale, Jakobsen admitted to PNE.co.uk: “It’s been great,

“I’ve enjoyed my time here. I came to England and just wanted to play in the Championship. I think I’ve shown that I can do that now.”

When probed on Jakobsen’s efforts as his contract ran down, via the LancashirePost, Preston boss Heckingbottom admitted: “No, good as gold. Good guy, yeah, listen, there’ll be some lads going in there.

“That dressing room, the players here have given everything all season. But not one of them didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to get wins for the fans, for the club, and for the badge.”

The 26-year-old would’ve been an impressive bit of business in January for the Black Cats, with his goals record this season rivalling their forward duo.

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Emil Riis Jakobsen’s record this season compared to Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda

Jakobsen ended the campaign on 12 goals, one of which came in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland in March, placing the Dane joint-seventh for highest goals tally alongside Isidor.

Isidor has suffered a goal drought for Sunderland, with his last strike coming in the 2-1 defeat at Elland Road in February, and that has caused Le Bris a striker selection dilemma over recent weeks.

19-year-old Eliezer Mayenda has enjoyed an impressive breakout campaign, notching eight goals and five assists in just 22 starts this season, most notably his stunning solo effort at Bristol City.

Isidor and Mayenda have shouldered the goalscoring burden for Sunderland this season, with a combined tally of 20 goals constituting 34.5% of the Black Cats’ Championship goals this term.

Jakobsen’s acquisition would’ve been a benefit to their promotion charge, and more likely if they fail to turn the tide on their worrying play-offs history, the 12-goal forward could soon be revisited as an attacking option by the Sunderland recruitment team.