Alious
One of Sunderland’s top January striker targets has broken his silence on how close he came to joining the club, confirming the Black Cats’ interest in him was genuine and significant.
In recent seasons, Sunderland’s striker situation has seen dramatic swings. Last campaign, under Tony Mowbray, the squad lacked a reliable goal-scorer. Fast forward to the current season under **Regis Le Bris**, and the club now boasts two prolific forwards in **Wilson Isidor** and **Eliezer Mayenda**, who together have contributed 27 goals and assists.
Despite a recent setback in a 2-1 defeat to **Bristol City**, Sunderland have already secured a Championship play-off spot with five games to go, sitting comfortably in fourth place. Their next fixture is a crucial one against **Blackburn Rovers** on Easter Monday as they prepare for the post-season challenge.
During the January window, as Sunderland pushed for a potential automatic promotion spot, the club were linked with a range of striking options. One name that stood out was **Matija Frigan**, a promising 22-year-old Croatian forward playing for Westerlo in Belgium.
Frigan, who has scored 10 goals in 24 starts this season, was a serious target for Sunderland, with negotiations reportedly reaching advanced stages. However, the transfer failed to materialise, and Frigan remained with his current club.
Speaking to SportWitness, Frigan addressed the interest directly, saying:
“I think it was serious. I don’t worry about it—I have people who take care of that. But I did hear from the club that talks were ongoing.”*
He added:
“I liked the idea, but when it didn’t happen, I just moved on. The summer’s coming, maybe a new chance. But I’m under contract, and it’s the club who decides.”
Frigan’s contract with Westerlo runs until June 2028, meaning any summer move would require a significant transfer fee. His comments, however, suggest he remains open to a switch, potentially reigniting Sunderland’s interest if they secure promotion.
Sunderland’s striker recruitment in January was full of twists. Though they secured a loan for Liverpool’s **Jayden Danns**, a medical issue has sidelined him indefinitely, and he is unlikely to play this season. Meanwhile, other targets opted for different paths:
– Tom Cannon (Sheffield United): Signed for £10 million but has yet to score, drawing criticism from fans.
– Ben Brereton Diaz (Sheffield United): Has made a bigger impact with four goals and three assists.
– Chuba Akpom (Lille): Passed on a return to England and has netted two goals in France.
– Cameron Archer (Southampton): Remained with the Saints as they suffered relegation struggles.
– Emil Riis Jakobsen (Preston North End): Scored 10 goals this season, including one against Sunderland.
Despite missing out on these names, Sunderland struck gold with Mayenda, signed for just £800,000 in 2023. The young Spaniard has quickly established himself as one of the league’s brightest prospects, highlighting the club’s shrewd recruitment strategy.
Whether Sunderland revive their pursuit of Frigan this summer remains to be seen, but with the striker confirming the club’s “serious” interest and a big transfer window looming, a second approach could be on the horizon — especially if the Premier League beckons.
Alious
