Sunderland know they face competition to sign Ajax forward Chuba Akpom this month as the Black Cats continue their search for reinforcements.

Regis Le Bris side remain hopeful of bolstering their forward line this month to help spearhead a promotion push and a return to the Premier League. Having been linked with the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Tom Cannon and Louie Barry, the Wearsiders have more recently been linked with former Boro striker Akpom.

However, Leicester City and Ligue 1 side Marseille have also been linked with a move this month. According to Dutch media outlet De Telegraaf, Akpom has been tole he can leave the Eridivisie club this month, with the Black Cats alert.

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Sunderland are understood to be tracking a number of striker targets heading into the final few days of the window as they hope to bring in additional firepower for the second half of the campaign. Akpom would fit the bill having finished as the Championship top goalscorer during the 2022-23 campaign with 28 goals in 40 league appearances.

It was that fine form in front of goal which saw him earn a move to the Dutch side for a reported fee of £12million including add-ons. Akpom has been a regular at Ajax, making 70 appearances in all competitions, scoring 22 goals in that time.

Nonetheless, he's been told he can move on this month, with reports claiming he wouldn't be keen on a return to the Championship, though that remains to be seen. Sunderland's interest is said to be a loan move for the England youth international with Le Bris addressing the need for more firepower last week.

"Probably we still need some more vertical threats, players who could run in behind," the Black Cats boss said. "This could be a striker but also a winger, maybe a versatile player.

"So this is still very much in our mind, but we will see what comes in these next weeks. But it is not necessarily about a number nine."