Sunderland are now the frontrunners to sign this Premier League striker in the summer.
Sunderland go into yet another transfer window where a new striker is their top priority.
That’s been the case for at least three transfer windows now; Sunderland signed three last summer in Nazariy Rusyn, Mason Burstow, and Luis Hemir, though they’ve scored just three league goals between them this season.
Jobe Bellingham has been left to fill the void in attack, or least sporadically over the past few weeks with Sunderland looking like they’re not even playing with a no.9 at times.
Either way, Kristjaan Speakman will know he has to finally plug the gap up top and it looks like he’s already drawing up his list of options.
One or two have been linked ahead of the summer including West Ham talent Divin Mubama.
The 19-year-old has featured five times in the Premier League this season and is rated highly by David Moyes.
But Mubama is out of contract this summer and refusing to pen a new deal.
And Sunderland are now leading the race to sign him on a free transfer.
Divin Mubama to Sunderland latest
The Athletic are reporting that West Ham now have a big decision to make on Mubama’s future ahead of the summer.
The Hammers have been trying and so far failing to secure Mubama’s future beyond this summer, having offered him a new contract at the start of this season.
Mauban turned it down and as things stand, he’s set to leave as a free agent this summer.
The Athletic add that Sunderland are currently the front runners for his signature having been monitoring the Englishman for some time now.
Due to his age, however, West Ham will be due compensation from whoever signs him.
Mubama made his Premier League debut for West Ham last season and has 10 first-team appearances to his name this season, albeit without scoring.
The problem with Divin Mubama to Sunderland
Links to Mubama feels like the same old story where Sunderland and strikers are concerned.
The Black Cats desperately need a proven goal scorer in their ranks.
Mubama is yet to even score a goal in senior football, albeit having played in the Premier League and Europa League at a young age.
It’s all well and good signing promising players for the future but Speakman and the Sunderland owners to think about the here and now.
Bringing Mubama in and relying on him to score 15, 20 goals next season is a huge risk and it could lead to yet another season where Sunderland are left wanting a goal scorer.
If Sunderland bring Mubama in, they need to bring in another, more experienced and proven striker alongside him, so that whoever the next manager is has the best of both worlds.
Sunderland face Sheffield Wednesday in their final game of the season on Saturday.