Sunderland favourites to sign Vanat as striker replacement ready
Sunderland have jumped out as favourites to sign Dynamo Kyiv striker Vladyslav Vanat.
The Black Cats are looking to improve in attacking areas this summer, after the goals dried up before the start of the play-offs.
It was reported last week that Sunderland could reignite their interest in Demarai Gray after the Jamaican expressed his desire to return to the Premier League.
Vanat has now come under Regis Le Bris’ radar ahead of his side’s return to the Premier League, which could signal the end of another striker’s time at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland expected to replace Nazariy Rusyn with Vanat
Nazariy Rusyn has had a troubled spell in the North East and looks set to depart Sunderland this summer.
Ukrainian podcast TaToTake has reported that Sunderland are favourites to sign Vanat from Dynamo Kyiv, with Fulham, Everton and Leeds United also interested in the forward.
Vanat, 23, has a release clause reported to be worth around £16.9million.
This would likely end Rusyn’s time at the Stadium of Light, with the Sunderland Echo reporting that the Black Cats will be looking to offload the striker after Hadjuk Split opted against making his loan permanent.
Goal machine Vanat can help Sunderland survive
Sunderland’s dip in form at the end of the season can be heavily attributed to their lack of goalscoring.
Le Bris’s side only scored three goals in their final nine league games, and Wilson Isidor’s form in particular is a significant concern.
Since making his loan permanent in February, the Frenchman has only scored four times, and went 12 Championship appearances without a goal before opening the scoring in the play-off semi-final against Coventry City.
Vanat could be the answer to Sunderland’s problems in attack.
The Ukrainian had an excellent season for Dynamo Kyiv, scoring 21 goals and registering nine assists in 45 appearances in all competitions, as Kyiv won the Ukrainian Premier League unbeaten.
With Le Bris moving towards using a 4-4-2 system at the end of the season and in the play-offs, a clinical strike partner next to Eliezer Mayenda could significantly improve the Wearsiders’ goal threat while protecting the side’s new defensive identity.