Reports: Sunderland Linked With Altidore Move

This morning see's a new name linked to the club, and it's finally a striker as Graeme Anderson of the Sunderland Echo reveals that one of the club's top striking target's this summer is USA international Jozy Altidore.

Having been teased that we were trailing a striker from the Dutch League, a handful of names were speculated by fans, including our selves here at Roker Report who thought it may well be Alfred Finnbogason or Wilfried Bony.

Neither of those have been mentioned for a while in the mainstream media having previously been connected to the club. Now it emerges that Altidore is the target.

Altidore has had a somewhat hit and miss career. Having made a great breakthrough at New York Red Bulls, the striker moved to Spain for a somewhat unproductive spell with Villarreal and later Xerez.

Some may remember him for a loan spell at Hull City last time they were in the Premier League, specifically as he was sent off for violent conduct against Sunderland in a barney that saw Alan Hutton also sent off.

However his career has finally got over the initial stumbles and he has flourished at AZ Alkmaar in Holland, netting 15 goals in 34 games during his first season followed by 23 in 33 last time out.

Perhaps the striker has finally turned a corner. It's speculated that Sunderland would need to fork out around somewhere around the £4-7m mark for the striker, who'd instantly be a top choice alongside Steven Fletcher.

As for whether or not he'd make a good foil for Fletcher, I think he would. With pace, power and size he's always had the potential, which only now at the age of 23 does he seem to be living up to.

He also seems to tick all the boxes for a Sunderland signing this summer. Hungry, something to prove, young and with potential sell-on value.

This fresh link is certainly one to keep an eye on over the next few weeks.