Headcoach of Lorient Regis LE BRIS during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Lille OSC and FC Lorient at Stade Pierre Mauroy on January 14, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by Daniel Derajinski/Icon Sport)
REGIS Le Bris is hopeful of a Sunderland striker breakthrough in the coming days, with the head coach revealing that the Black Cats are spinning plates when it comes to both incomings and exits with two weeks of the transfer window remaining.
Le Bris says Sunderland’s hierarchy are “working really hard” to add a much-needed striker to the ranks and says there’s confidence that the long and difficult summer search is approaching its conclusion.
But it’s not clear at this stage whether the first striker through the door will be the only new frontman to arrive before the transfer deadline or whether it will be a permanent or loan deal, with Le Bris saying “both are possible.”
Le Bris said: “Nothing is close at the moment. We are working really hard, we’re in discussions with many players in and out. We are confident, this market is very difficult, the process is complex but I think we will succeed maybe in the next few days.
“We are working on it. It is not an easy market really because there are many, many teams are searching for this profile – a player who is able to score, to run in behind. It’s difficult but I think we will succeed.
“I know this market and it is difficult, we need to work hard and stay confident. We need to keep our consistency and our idea, and then you know that in the last second it can happen.”
After revealing he hoped a signing would be made in the coming days, Le Bris was asked whether that would be a permanent or temporary arrival and said: “Both are possible. We are working on every possibility.”
In terms of outgoings, the future of Pierre Ekwah is in doubt after fresh reports of interest from Udinese, while Premier League clubs continue to monitor Jack Clarke.
Le Bris said: “There is lots of speculation, as usual. At the moment these two players are here, they are working well with the team. They are available to play against Sheffield Wednesday this weekend. For me, they are with us.”
Sunderland are again expected to be without summer signing Ian Poveda this weekend but the former Leeds United forward has been in full training this week and is moving closer to being available to make his debut.
Le Bris said: “He’s getting better and trained this week with the team, full training sessions.
“He’s not really ready at the moment but not too far off, maybe 80 or 90%. We want to build strong foundations for the whole season, not just him being available for 10 or 20 minutes.
“He wasn’t involved in pre-season so we know the foundations aren’t there so we want to be sure that he will be in the best way to start.”
