Sunderland have made an incredible start to life back in the Premier League, as they sit 12th, whilst the two teams that finished above them in the Championship are now in the relegation zone.
The Black Cats have had numerous players step up to prove their worth in the top-flight this season, including French centre-forward Wilson Isidor.
He has produced four goals in nine starts in the Premier League for Regis Le Bris, after a return of 12 goals in 43 Championship matches last term, per Sofascore.
Whilst it remains to be seen if he will continue to provide a regular threat in front of goal, the Black Cats are reportedly looking to add another number nine to their ranks.
Sunderland planning bid to sign Serie A striker
With the January transfer window little more than a month away, the Championship play-off winners are already making moves to bolster their squad for the second half of the season.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Sport Mediaset, via Sport Witness, Sunderland are ready to swoop for AC Milan centre-forward Santiago Gimenez to compete with Isidor and Brian Brobbey.
The report claims that the Black Cats have already made contact with the Mexico international’s agent to discuss a potential move to the Stadium of Light in the winter window.
It adds that Sunderland are planning to make an offer of an initial loan deal with an option to buy that becomes permanent if certain conditions, that remain unknown, are met.
Whilst it does not state how much the option or obligation would cost, it has been reported that Milan want to recoup the fee of around £26m that they paid Feyenoord for his services in February.
Why Sunderland should sign Santiago Gimenez
Some supporters may look at his record in Italy, of five goals in 23 Serie A matches in 2025, and question whether he is an upgrade on Isidor that is worth potentially paying £26m for.
However, Gimenez’s form for Feyenoord before his big-money move to Milan suggests that he is capable of far more than he has shown so far during his time with the Italian giants.
The Mexican number nine spent two-and-a-half years with the Dutch side and proved himself to be an incredibly prolific scorer in the Netherlands, particularly in his final 18 months at the club, as shown in the table below.
Appearances
30
11
Goals
23
7
Minutes per goal
104
110
Conversion rate
21%
25%
Big chances created
9
4
Assists
6
1
Gimenez scored 23 goals in all competitions in the 2022/23 season, 26 in the 2023/24 campaign, and 22 for Feyenoord and Milan combined last term, per Sofascore.
The Milan forward, who was previously hailed as “unstoppable” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may not have set the world alight in Italy, but his form for Feyenoord in recent years shows that he can score goals at an exceptional rate in the right environment.
Isidor, meanwhile, is one year older than Gimenez and has never scored more than 15 goals in a season, whilst his only season with double figures for goals came in the Championship last term.
The Mexico international has three seasons with more than 20 goals under his belt and has scored goals in the Europa League, the Eredivisie, the Serie A, and the Champions League.
These statistics outline why signing the 24-year-old marksman from Milan could be a brilliant piece of business because he has the potential to be a huge upgrade on Isidor as a goalscorer if Le Bris can extract his Feyenoord form back out of him in the Premier League.
Therefore, as an initial loan deal that could turn into a permanent signing, Gimenez could be a fantastic addition to the squad in the January window.
Le Bris can end £7m star's Sunderland career by signing Guendouzi
This Sunderland leader will surely be shown the exit door if Matteo Guendouzi does join Regis Le Bris’ ranks.
ByKelan Sarson