O´Neill aiming to bolster attack

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill says acquiring experienced striking options is his top priority in the transfer window.

O’Neill had great success in utilising Stephane Sessegnon behind Nicklas Bendtner last season, but Bendtner has since returned to parent club Arsenal following the completion of his loan deal.

Additionally, Asamoah Gyan has made his loan deal at Al-Ain permanent, leaving O’Neill with just Fraizer Campbell, Ji Dong-Won and the inexperienced Connor Wickham as the only recognised strikers in his squad, a trio that scored five goals between them last season.

Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, O’Neill said: “Undoubtedly, what is focusing my mind more than anything else is the need to strengthen our attacking options.

“We have lost Nicklas Bendtner after his loan, we have lost Asamoah Gyan from our squad list and we need to bring in strikers.

“What I am looking to do is bring in attacking players who have quality and who have more experience than we have now, because, when you look at our squad in terms of attackers, we are short on experience and it’s something we need to try to address.”

The Wearside club have been linked with a number of strikers, including Steven Fletcher of relegated Wolves.

Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar is the only new arrival at the Stadium of Light so far this close-season after arriving on a free transfer from Aston Villa.

O’Neill is optimistic of concluding a second transfer in the coming days, but would not reveal the identity of any potential new recruits.

“There may be something I can tell you very soon, but I really don’t want to say anything until players are actually signed,” he said.