Sunderland finished rock-bottom in the Championship standings last season, having managed to accumulate merely 37 points. They endured a stuttering form for the major part of the campaign and they did deserve to face such consequences. Worryingly, finding the back of the net was a major issue for them which they cannot afford to continue in League One.
Under the tutelage of Jack Ross, Sunderland have made some good signings but there is still a lot of room for further improvement. They are likely to do more business to lure some notable players to the Stadium of Light before the summer transfer window shuts down. As per one of the latest reports by Chronicle Live, the Black Cats are desirous to make Charlie Wyke sign on the dotted line.
The Bradford City forward is one of the hottest properties in League One and he managed to plunder 15 goals in 40 league appearances last term. This is arguably the main reason why Ross is keeping close tabs on him, for the manager needs to get a reliable and consistent goal-getter to enhance his chances of promotion to the Championship this season.
Having emerged through the renowned youth system of Middlesbrough, Wyke wasn’t given too many opportunities for the senior side of the Smoggies. During his stay at Middlesbrough, he was shipped out on loan to Kettering Town, Hartlepool United, AFC Wimbledon and again to Hartlepool United before he was signed by Carlisle United in the January transfer window of 2015.
A year later, he signed a permanent deal with the Bantams and has proven himself to be a productive forward for the English third-tier outfit. Former Bradford City manager, Stuart McCall, had put a price tag of £5million on the collar of Wyke back in January and there is no denying that he is a prized asset for the club. He is under contract until the end of the 2018-19 season and Sunderland should pursue Wyke with determination as this is a deal which has the legs to reach the finishing line.
A tall and strong attacker who will act as the target man, Wyke is blessed with the ability to hold the ball well in the final third too. The 25-year-old offers a lot of creativity and has raw pace in his legs to outrun most of the defenders. His career graph has been seeing an upward trajectory and given that he still has time to develop further, he will certainly be an astute signing for Sunderland if this move materializes.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored