Sunderland have another striker in the sights in this transfer window. The Black Cats have already been linked to the likes of Matija Frigan, Ajax’s Chuba Akpom and Preston’s Emil Riis but nothing has materialised.

Now reports have surfaced linking Regis Le Bris’ side with a move for Besiktas forward Semih Kilicsoy – with North East rivals Newcastle United also thought to be interested along with Aston Villa and Dutch giants Ajax. The prospect of Sunderland and Newcastle going head to head for the 19-year-old is a real one.

Kilicsoy burst on the scene in 2023/24 with 11 goals in 23 SuperLig appearances, although he’s scored just once in 19 league games for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this time round. Nevertheless, he remains a prospect, and big clubs are circling and it has been suggested that bids of around £16m would be needed to capture his signature. Aston Villa and Ajax have also been linked in recent days.

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That price tag seems a bit rich for Sunderland but they appear keen to land a striker before the winter window shuts and while Kilicsoy has struggled in front of goal in 2024/25, it’s clear that he remains a well-regarded player in European football.

Appointed earlier in January, it didn’t take long for Solskjaer to see Kilicsoy’s potential, with the former Manchester United boss describing Kilicsoy as a ‘top-level’ player. That may indicate Solskjaer’s intentions to keep the striker beyond this January transfer window – his contract expires in the summer of 2028.