Sunderland transfer target spills the truth on how ‘serious’ club were about signing him in January window

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Sunderland were linked with several strikers in January, and one forward has revealed how close the Black Cats came to signing him.

Sunderland’s relationship with strikers over recent seasons has been turbulent.

Last season, Tony Mowbray was not equipped with any centre-forwards who even remotely looked like scoring. This term, Regis Le Bris has two prolific frontmen in Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda at his disposal, who share 27 goal contributions between them.

Sunderland sit fourth in the Championship table, and have secured an illustrious place in the play-offs with five games to spare in the season.

Le Bris’ side face Blackburn Rovers on Easter Monday, off the back of their 2-1 defeat at Bristol City, with their season set to be defined by the play-offs.

In January amid their Championship title fight, the Black Cats were linked with a host of striker transfer targets, and one forward has now revealed himself how ‘seriously’ Sunderland were about signing him this season.

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Sunderland transfer target believes interest in him was ‘serious’

Croatian striker Matija Frigan was heavily linked with a January move from Belgian Pro League side Westerlo to Wearside.

The 22-year-old has ten goals to his name in 24 starts for the mid-table side, and Sunderland were understood to be seriously interested in the young striker’s services in January.

However, despite the deal being reportedly close, Frigan’s move to Sunderland didn’t materialise in January and he remained at Westerlo.

Following the speculation around his Sunderland move, Frigan himself has revealed how “serious” the Black Cats’ interest in him was and if there is potential for another move in the upcoming summer window.

Frigan told SportWitness: “I think it was serious. I don’t worry about it. I’ve people who follow it, but I’ve heard at the club that it’s being talked about.

“I liked the idea, but when it didn’t go through, I put it out of my mind the next morning.

“The summer is coming, maybe a new opportunity, but I have a solid contract, the club decides everything.”

The Croatian’s current Westerlo deal doesn’t expire until June 2028, and as such it would’ve required a multi-million fee for Sunderland to acquire the promising forward.

Sunderland have been blessed with Isidor and Mayenda this season, but the club had been heavily linked with a number of high-profile striker targets.

Sheffield United beat Sunderland to Tom Cannon’s signature, and Ben Brereton Diaz opted for a move back to Bramall Lane over the Stadium of Light.

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How seasons have gone strikers linked with Sunderland transfers in January window

Sunderland actually completed the loan signing of Liverpool starlet Jayden Danns in January, but an injury flagged up in his medical has kept him out of Sunderland contention, and the youngster is unlikely to even feature for the Black Cats this season.

The Blades duo were just two of several strikers linked with a move to Sunderland in January, and that long list of targets have endured varying degrees of success away from Wearside.

• Tom Cannon (Sheffield United)

Cannon has endured a torrid time at Sheffield United, with supporters lamenting his £10m move, but the Blades believe Cannon will come good despite firing blanks since his January switch from loan outfit Stoke City.

Cannon moved to Bramall Lane for a deal in the region of £10m, and Frigan was touted for a seven-figure fee. Mayenda, however, cost Sunderland only £800k back in 2023 and has since become one of the hottest goalscoring prospects in the Championship this season.

• Ben Brereton Diaz (Sheffield United)

Cannon’s Blades teammate Diaz has enjoyed a better run of form since his return to Sheffield United, scoring four goals and assisting three times as his side remain hopeful for automatic promotion.

• Chuba Akpom (Lille)

Former Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom was touted for a return to the North East in January, but moved to Ligue 1 side Lille instead. Englishman Akpom has scored twice in nine French top flight outings since his loan move to Lille.

• Cameron Archer (Southampton)

Former Championship star Cameron Archer was another linked with a loan move to Sunderland in January, but would eventually remain at Southampton as part of their disastrous Premier League relegation campaign.

• Emil Riis Jakobsen (Preston North End)

Preston North End forward Emil Riis Jakobsen was another touted for a Sunderland move, and the 26-year-old did score against the Black Cats in the 1-1 Stadium of Light draw. Jakobsen has scored ten in 27 Championship starts for struggling Preston this season.