Sunderland are already in talks to sign a better striker than Brobbey

Regis Le Bris and the Sunderland recruitment team deserve a lot of credit for their work in the summer transfer window last year, as they built a squad that qualified for Europe.

The Black Cats finished seventh in their first season back in the Premier League to secure Europa League football for the 2026/27 campaign, and have done so with some shrewd recruitment.

Nordi Mukiele and Granit Xhaka were two experienced, proven, star players added to the squad, but the club also took a risk on the likes of Brian Brobbey and it worked very well.

The Dutch striker scored just four goals in the Eredivisie in the 2024/25 campaign, but that did not stop Sunderland from agreeing to bring him to Wearside.

Brobbey ended up playing a key role in the club’s success in the Premier League with seven goals in 31 games and a constant physical presence at the other end of the pitch.

Why Sunderland need to sign a better striker than Brian Brobbey

Despite the Netherlands international having had a fantastic year at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats should be in the market to improve on him in the summer transfer window.

Sunderland have scored just 42 goals in the Premier League, the fourth lowest in the division, and must look to improve their attack to ensure they can stay in the top flight.

Brobbey scored seven goals and missed 12 ‘big chances’ in 31 league games for Le Bris, showing that he was wasting the chances he got in front of goal.

The 24-year-old striker has not delivered goals at a different rate or shown that he has the ability to finish and become a reliable goalscorer week in and week out, which should come as no surprise after his four goals in the Eredivisie last season.

Sunderland, therefore, should be looking for a striker who can hit double figures to lift the attack in the Premier League, leaving Brobbey as a top quality option for rotation and Europa League starts.

Sunderland are holding talks to sign striker Brian Brobbey

In fact, the Black Cats are already putting in work at the back and are reported to have held talks with the Dutchman’s best number nine.

Sunderland reportedly held talks to inquire about a deal for Juventus midfielder Jonathan David in March, and should follow that up with a formal offer for his services in next summer’s transfer window.

The Canadian produced eight goals and five assists in all competitions for the Old Lady, more than Brobbey managed at Sunderland, and it was his worst season in the first team.

David scored at least 13 goals in each of his five seasons with French side Lille, scoring 77 goals in his last three years combined, and has been a reliable goalscorer for most of his career so far.

The 26-year-old star, whose goalscoring numbers have been described as “insane” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has also scored 13 or more goals in all five of his seasons in Ligue 1, showing he can be a consistent goalscorer at league level.

While his time at Juventus has not gone well to plan, as he has failed to hit double figures in goals, the Canadian star has still racked up 13 goal contributions without starting every week, starting 20 times in Serie A.

Brobbey, on the other hand, has never scored more than seven goals in one of Europe’s biggest leagues and has never scored 20 goals in an Eredivisie campaign for Ajax, missing 61 ‘big chances’ in his last two seasons in the Netherlands.

Although he is a physical presence and will still have a big role to play at Sunderland next season, the Dutchman may find himself second choice in the Premier League due to his relegation woes.

David is a proven striker of the highest caliber in Europe and will come as a special addition to the squad, given his record at both Juventus and Lille, which is why the club should aim to secure a deal for him when the summer transfer window opens.