Transfer Wishlist: Defoe a good start but Sunderland need more forwards

What areas do they need to strengthen? When your side have scored fewer than all but one Premier League teams, and two of your strikeforce were recently named in an article “Worse 5 Sunderland signings of the Premier League era”, you know you’re in trouble.

An astronomical amount looks to have been spent to bring Jermain Defoe to Wearside, but the Black Cats surely need another attacking-minded player at the Stadium of Light.

Who have they been linked with? Francesco Acerbi, Ahmad Benali, Marco Boriello, Jermain Defoe, Virgil Van Dijk, John Guidetti, Junior Hoilett, Hugo Rodallega, Mohammed Salah, Yaya Sanogo

January Wishlist Best Buys

John Guidetti – Celtic

The former Manchester City youngster didn’t really get to shine at Eastlands, but has done well out on loan since.

He bagged 20 goals for Feyenoord in the 2011-12 season, and has since been tearing up the Scottish Premiership with Celtic, with six goals from 15 appearances.

Confidence isn’t an issue for the Swede either, with the forward recently predicting he would score a hat-trick against Glasgow rivals Rangers.

He could be available for £5m in this window.

Mohamed Salah – Chelsea

Gustavo Poyet has already spoken this window of how he intends to bring a player in on loan from another Premier League club.

And with game-time at Stamford Bridge looking non-existent for the Egyptian, a move to the north-east could appeal.

While he has been limited to less than five hours on the pitch for the Blues this season, he has still delivered on an international level, scoring five goals in six games for his country during 2014.

Ahmad Benali – Brescia

No, not a relation of Southampton legend Francis Benali, but this 22-year-old looks set for a spell in the Premier League.

Currently plying his trade for financially struggling Brescia in Serie B, the Libyan international started his career at Manchester City before moving to Italy.

But with his club not paying their players for two weeks running, he could be sacrificed to save the club, with Sunderland and Everton reportedly interested.

The midfielder had recently been linked to Inter Milan, but is reported to want a return to the country of his birth.

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Scott Sinclair – Manchester City

Arguably spoiled the good start he had made in his career with a move to Manchester City in …, but there is little denying the promise he showed during his time at Swansea.

While Jermain Defoe is a good start, Poyet needs to bring in firepower in the final third.

Sinclair could fill the loan void detailed by the Uruguayan, or could even be available on a permanent deal, with any place near the champions starting XI looking increasingly unlikely.

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