Sunderland are now hoping to sign this free agent attacker, who was released by a Championship club this summer.
Sunderland are stepping up their summer transfer plans under Kristjaan Speakman and new head coach Regis Le Bris.
Sunderland are trying to sign Alexandre Mendy from Caen but appear to be hitting a few stumbling blocks in their pursuit of last season’s Ligue 2 Golden Boot winner.
The 30-year-old may yet join the likes of Simon Moore and Alan Browne in moving to the Stadium of Light ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 Championship season.
Other names continue to be linked with Sunderland, with Speakman largely thought to be working on unknown transfer targets behind the scenes at Sunderland.
The Black Cats’ sporting director is under pressure to deliver results in this summer’s transfer market following the prolonged search process to eventually hire Le Bris in June.
Now, it looks like Speakman and Sunderland are working on a deal for another free agent.
Sunderland ‘hoping’ to sign Ian Poveda after Leeds United release
Ian Poveda was linked with Sunderland earlier in the summer, following his release at Leeds United after four years with the Yorkshire club.
The two-cap Colombian international spent much of his time at Elland Road out on loan with teams in the Championship, spending time with Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, and then with Sheffield Wednesday in the second half of last season.
Poveda grabbed one assist in 10 Championship outings for the Owls but won over the hearts of fans, with Sheffield Wednesday having been eager for Poveda to return.
Now though, journalist Dominic Shaw has revealed that Sunderland are ‘hoping to beat’ a number of Championship rivals to the free signing of 24-year-old Poveda.
Kristjaan Speakman is learning one Sunderland lesson, but disregarding another with Ian Poveda link
Speakman, with the signings of Moore and Browne and now the link to Poveda, seems to be learning from last season’s lack of Championship experience.
Although Poveda only has 55 Championship appearances to his name, he’s been in and around the league for several years now, showcasing his quality with Sheffield Wednesday last season.
Poveda though has only made 55 Championship outings because of his injury record, which has kept him from really kicking on with Leeds United and any of his loan teams.
Sunderland are no strangers to injuries and so adding another to the mix may not seem like the most sensible decision from Speakman.
So it’s a difficult move to weigh up for Sunderland. Poveda is clearly a player with quality but how many games he can realistically play across a season remains to be seen.
With the Black Cats now heavily linked, it suggests that they have a strong and definite interest.
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