Sunderland are reportedly keen to bring in strikers on a free transfer after a groin problem ruled Fabio Borini out for three months, leaving Jermain Defoe and new arrival Victor Anichebe as the club’s sole fit senior line leaders.
The Black Cats are 37/20 third-favourites in the Premier League relegation betting, with the bwin odds compilers taking dim view of their survival chances amid an epidemic of injuries to senior players.
Mercifully for manager David Moyes, there are several Premier League-savvy strikers currently unattached.
Former Arsenal men Emmanuel Adebayor, Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner are all available, with the last named probably the most attractive option.
Adebayor was unable to make a mark during a short-term deal with Crystal Palace last term, while Chamakh played just 272 minutes for the Eagles in 2015/16.
The Dane is still only 28 and despite starting just 13 Bundesliga games for Wolfsburg in the previous season (scoring twice), he proved his goal-getting knack is undiminished by notching both Die Wolfe’s equaliser and winning shootout penalty when the club beat Bayern Munich to win the DFL Supercup in 2015.
Bendtner also bagged eight times in 28 appearances for Sunderland during a profitable loan spell away from the Emirates Stadium in 2011/12.
Former Tottenham and Manchester United number nine Dimitar Berbatov is an older, classier alternative to be bandied around following his departure from PAOK Salonika, but not the oldest, nor the classiest unattached option.
That would be former World Cup winner and the competition’s all time leading goalscorer, Miroslav Klose, who left Lazio after five years earlier this summer, keen to continue playing.
Klose netted eight times for the Biancocelesti in 2015/16, with five of those strikes coming inside his last five games.
The Black Cats’ Premier League status should mean they have little trouble beating off the competition of clubs from the MLS or Australia’s A League for his signature.
