Sunderland are closing in on a loan deal that will see Zenit St Petersburg striker Wilson Isidor reunite with Regis Le Bris with the Championship outfit also keen on Red Bull Salzburg’s Roko Simic.
The centre-forward position has been an issue for Sunderland ever since Ross Stewart left for Southampton in the summer of 2023, but the hope will be that a long-awaited solution has now been found in the transfer market with two talented young number nines on their way.
Eliezer Mayenda, after a difficult first year on Wearside and a loan spell at Hibernian, opened his account for the Black Cats during Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday.
Mayenda then doubled his tally in the second-half.
Sunderland are understandably keen to avoid relying upon a still unproven 19-year-old for goals, however. And HITC can now confirm that Le Bris’ side are closing in on a deal that will see Wilson Isidor move to England from Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg.
Sunderland to reunite Regis le Bris with Wilson Isidor
The former France Under 20 international knows Le Bris from his time in Rennes’ youth side. It is understood that his presence in the Stadium of Light is a major reason why Isidor is keen to complete the switch.
Zenit CEO Alexander Medvedev told Sport Express on Wednesday that Isidor is ‘on his way to Sunderland.
Head coach Sergei Semak has now opened up on the 23-year-old’s imminent departure. He admits that Le Bris has succeeded in convincing Isidor to join despite interest from numerous other teams across the continent.
“He tried very hard and there are absolutely no questions about his attitude to work. But, given his wishes, he is a young player who needs to progress and play as much as possible in order to progress,” Semak tells Sport24.
“We met him halfway. There were several options from European clubs, but it so happened that he went to where he knows the head coach.
“Where he believed that he would be given enough playing time to reveal his potential. And he certainly has (potential).”
Isidor scored only four goals in 26 Zenit St Petersburg appearances. The 6ft 1ins striker found form much easier to come by at previous employers Lokomotiv Moscow, however.
His switch to the Gazprom Arena came about after Isidor netted 19 in 42 Lokomotiv outings.
Black Cats also close in on Salzburg’s Roko Simic
HITC can also confirm that Sunderland are in talks to sign Roko Simic from Red Bull Salzburg too.
Taller than Isidor at 6ft 3ins, the rangy Simic was likened to fellow Croatian Mario Mandzukic in his younger days. He was also linked back in 2021 with Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
After netting only six times last term, Simic has fallen out of favour under new Salzburg coach and former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders.
The Milan-born 20-year-old – who once enjoyed a 19-goal season on loan at Liefering and is reportedly valued at around £5 million per WAZ – was nowhere to be seen during Red Bull Salzburg’s 2-0 win away at Dinamo Kyiv in Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier.
“Roko Simic was not there because he is in talks with other clubs,” a Red Bull Salzburg spokesman told the Salzburger Nachrichten after the game.
After missing out on the Austrian Bundesliga title for the first time in over a decade last term, Salzburg announced the £10 million acquisition of former Liverpool starlet Bobby Clark earlier on Thursday.
It remains to be seen, meanwhile, what Sunderland’s pursuit of Isidor and Simic means for Alexandre Mendy. Ligue 2’s Golden Boot winner is keen to join the Black Cats but, much to his frustration, a deal is yet to be struck.
Sunderland also missed out on Goduine Koyalipou to CSKA Sofia.
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