Sunderland seek summer signing of striker Franco Di Santo?

Sunderland, odds-on at 5/6 with Coral to suffer Premier League relegation, have been linked with making a summer swoop for Argentine striker Franco Di Santo, formerly of Chelsea.

Capped three times by his country, the 26-year-old has finally delivered on the potential Stamford Bridge scouts saw in him during what is his second season with Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen.

While officials from the German club have denied receiving a bid from the Black Cats for Di Santo, they must consider selling their star striker as he is out of contract next summer, else get him to sign a new deal.

During spells at Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic, 6th 4in forward Di Santo struggled to score with his best seasonal tally in England amounting to just seven goals.

Leaving the Premier League when Wigan were relegated just days after upsetting Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup final, it was a similar story in his maiden Bundesliga campaign last season as Di Santo struck just four times.

An impressive return of 13 goals in 21 league goals this term may be signs Di Santo is blooming late. Sunderland’s reported interest in him is only likely to materalise in the form of a firm offer should they preserve their top-flight status.

None of Black Cats boss Dick Advocaat’s current striking options have to leave this summer unless the Wearside outfit go down, though his own future is up in the air. Jermain Defoe, who only signed for Sunderland in January, is under contract until 2018, while Connor Wickham was also tied down to a long-term deal this season.

Both Scotland striker Steven Fletcher and fringe player Danny Graham have one more year left, so the latter may move on. Despite these oppositions, the Black Cats are the joint second lowest Premier League scorers with just 26 in 33 outings.

Despite this blunt attack, Coral rate Sunderland just as likely to stay up as go down at odds of 5/6.