Sunderland are in hot pursuit of another striker, with Ross Stewart being the only player they have in that position currently. There is no doubt that the Scotsman will be the main man up top once again after a 22-goal season in League One for the Black Cats last term, but Alex Neil needs backup options.
There have been a couple of names that have been mentioned regularly in the rumour mill so far this summer as Neil searches for the ideal alternative to target man Stewart. We have picked out the three most-likely additions in the striker position for Sunderland.
Nathan Broadhead
Sunderland are reportedly pushing to re-sign Broadhead, who enjoyed a successful loan spell with the club last season from Premier League outfit Everton. The 24-year-old scored ten goals in 20 League One last season, serving as back-up to Stewart, so there is no reason why he could not do it again.
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The Welshman is with the Toffees on their pre-season tour in the United States but did not feature in their first games against Arsenal, despite manager Frank Lampard using 22 different players. With Broadhead seemingly surplus to requirements at Goodison Park and his contract running out next summer, Sunderland are willing to discuss another loan or even a permanent deal.
The move to familiar surroundings would make sense for Broadhead with the Wearside club making the step up to the Championship this season. He also worked well as a rotation option at striker, with his style of play offering something different to Stewart.
Troy Parrott
A product of the youth system at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, Parrott has spent time on loan at Millwall, Ipswich Town and most recently MK Dons, where he scored and assisted against the Black Cats during the 2021/22 campaign.
Parrot has had a stellar youth career for Spurs that has seen the talented frontman score 31 times in 38 appearances across various levels. Also, the 20-year-old is already a fully-fledged senior Republic of Ireland international, making 15 appearances and scoring four goals for his national side.
Parrott added 17 goal contributions in 41 appearances for the Dons last season, and his performances against Sunderland have put him on their radar this summer. The Irish forward is with Tottenham on their pre-season tour of South Korea but is expected to be loaned out again, and a move to a Championship club would be a natural step up, having played in League One last term.
Ellis Simms
Simms is another Everton forward that Sunderland are tracking, who would probably receive limited game time if he stayed at Goodison Park this season. The 21-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Toffees and scored seven goals in 21 appearances on loan at SPL side Hearts last season.
He also impressed on loan at Blackpool during the 2020/21 season, reaching double figures for goals and scoring twice in the play-offs to help the Tangerines to promotion from League One. Similarly to Parrott, Simms has had a prolific youth career scoring 58 times in 83 appearances for Everton's U18 and U23 sides and has shown he can mix it at the senior level with his recent loan spells.
Broadhead seems to be the first choice for a move striker for Sunderland, but if that does not materialise, then Simms could be another option from Everton that Neill could pursue.
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