A striker linked with Sunderland in June has now been tipped to leave his current club.
Once again for Sunderland and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, new strikers are the main focus going into this summer’s transfer window.
Since the Black Cats’ return to the Championship in 2022 and then the subsequent injury struggles of Ross Stewart, Sunderland haven’t had a goal-scoring no.9 in their ranks.
Following the prolonged four-month search process for a new head coach, Speakman and co are now under intense pressure to deliver positive results in this summer’s transfer window.
Several striker have been linked with potential summer moves to the Stadium of Light, including Notts County ace Macaulay Langstaff.
The 27-year-old scored 28 goals in League Two last season after netting 42 National League goals the previous season.
Born in Stockton-on-Tees, the striker has worked his way up and through the non-league system, representing the likes of Gateshead along the way.
Millwall bid for Sunderland striker target Macaulay Langstaff
Reports on Friday confirmed that Sunderland’s Championship rivals Millwall have lodged a bid for Langstaff at Notts County.
Since, journalist Darren Witcoop has revealed on X that it is ‘expected’ Langstaff leaves the League Two club during this summer’s transfer window.
Witcoop adds that five clubs, three of which in League One, have ‘declared an interest’ in the striker, after Witcoop previously revealed the Black Cats’ interest in Langstaff earlier in June.
Will Sunderland lodged a bid for Macaulay Langstaff at Notts County
Sunderland putting money on the table for a 28-year-old seems fairly unlikely at this point, especially with Millwall having already tabled the first bid.
He surely won’t come cheap given his goals record and with another teams already at the table, the price will only go up from here.
For Sunderland, it looks as though a move for Langstaff may be unlikely, if it ever was that likely.
Expect the Black Cats to target a striker with a proven Championship goals record this summer; Speakman especially so given that he’s under pressure to do so.
If Speakman took another risk on a striker like Langstaff with no Championship history and it doesn’t work out; after the recent managerial fiasco, he’d be under severe scrutiny.
There’ll be plenty of options out there for Sunderland. But they must act fast to bring in the right ones this summer.
