In-form Sunderland youngster nets twice for Sweden as talks surrounding his future intensify

Emerging talent Joel Asoro’s fine form continued this afternoon after scoring twice for Sweden U21s in their 3-0 win over Turkey in their U21 European Championships qualifier.

In the game played at Bahçeşehir Okulları Stadium today, Asoro started in his now-familiar wide right position for the young Swedes and got the opening goal of the game, speeding past his man on the right wing before prodding the ball beyond Bursaspor goalkeeper Muhammed Şengezer to give his side the lead.

Heading into the break with a two-nil lead, Sweden emerged just as energised and looked to kill the game off early in the second half.

There was one hairy moment for Asoro early in the second period, after he was fouled with a brutal looking knee to the back whilst jumping for a header. Luckily for Sunderland he was fine, and after some treatment he was back to his feet.

The Swedes continued to see the game out with ease and with five minutes of normal time remaining, Asoro doubled his tally with a fine goal.

Playing off the shoulder of the last defender, Asoro latched onto a great through ball before dinking it over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the net - it was a great finish which killed the game off, ending 3-0 to the away side and putting them second in Group 6 and level on points with third-place Hungary.

Whilst away on international duty the talk surrounding Asoro’s future as a Sunderland player has intensified somewhat, with Chris Coleman confirming that the club will offer the youngster a new contract that will see him extend his deal beyond the end of next season.

Despite Sunderland’s struggles his fine form has not gone unnoticed, leading to the emergence of rumours both in Sweden and Turkey linking him with a move away from the club in the summer.

Former Sweden international Johan Elmander this week joined Galatasaray’s backroom team and has vowed to bring with him a host of Scandanavian talent from around the continent, which has led to rags in Turkey naming Asoro as one of the players that the Süper Lig giants are monitoring ahead of the summer transfer window.

That said, we’ve seen in the past that Asoro’s agent isn’t afraid to bandy his name around and regardless of which league Sunderland find themselves in next season we can expect that he’ll be linked here, there and everywhere in a bid to drive up his price and earn him a move to a bigger club in the process.