Sunderland want to sign a striker - here are five alternatives to Will Grigg we could target

Tom Eaves - Gillingham

At 6’5, he’s very different to Josh Maja and would provide a more physical option in attack, but Gillingham’s star man Tom Eaves has 15 goals this season and is attracting attention from clubs in the Scottish Premiership and the Championship - he’s hot property.

Much of my admiration for him comes from his performance against us earlier in the season where, despite a 4-1 defeat for his team, he scored and caused Glenn Loovens and Jack Baldwin a whole host of problems with his directness, aggression and class.

He’s a good age, 26, and has performed consistently at this level for a few years now. He wouldn’t cost the earth and would definitely improve our options up top - he’s definitely one that we should consider.

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Lawrence Shankland - Ayr United

Jack Ross likes shopping in Scotland; after all, there’s a lot to be said for purchasing what you know and trust, and his business so far has been impressive.

At just 23, Shankland has had a ridiculously good season in the Scottish Championship and has hit 28 goals in just 26 games with his side sitting pretty in the league. Jack Ross has already been linked to the hot-shot Scottish striker and has worked with him whilst manager of St. Mirren.

A bid of £200,000 from Swansea has already been rejected with ourselves, Rangers and Celtic allegedly sniffing around. The Honest Men are looking for a fee closer to £500,000 - surely that’s within our budget?

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Viktor Gyökeres - Brighton & Hove Albion

Viktor Gyökeres’ name is one that many won’t recognise, but we were very close to the loan signing of the young Swede back in August. For some reason the deal didn’t happen, yet with his playing time limited on the south coast, could we reignite our interest in the Brighton talent?

He’s been very much limited in regards to first team football but Gyökeres has managed to score a goal every other game for Brighton’s U23s, showing that he’s carried on his impressive form from last season.

At 20-years-old, Brighton gaffer Chris Hughton will surely want him to get more exposure - and there’s not many better places in the third tier to learn your trade at than Sunderland and the Stadium of Light right now.

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Conor Washington - Sheffield United

There were loose links to the former Queens Park Rangers player in the summer before he was picked up by high-flying Sheffield United, but his move to south Yorkshire has certainly not panned out how he would have hoped.

With Billy Sharp showing his class consistently, David McGoldrick still amongst the goals and recent loan signing Gary Madine ahead of him in the pecking order, a move away from Sheffield may just be what he needs to reignite his stuttering career.

Another who is at a good age, Washington is much less of an out-and-out striker than the likes of Josh Maja, but on loan he could be worth a punt.

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Mohamed Eisa - Bristol City

Stewart Donald was desperate to sign Sudanese striker Mo Eisa in the summer.

But, despite a bid of over £1 million, Bristol City came in under our noses to offer more money and Championship football. Sadly for the 24-year-old, it appears he made the wrong move, and he’s yet to score for his new club.

An injury in early September put the striker out of action for over six weeks, and since his return he’s not had a sniff of first team action as Lee Johnson continues to place his faith in Famara Diedhiou, Andreas Weimann and Matty Taylor instead.

He definitely needs to find some sort of form and currently isn’t even making their matchday squad let alone the first team - could it be worth making a move, perhaps on loan?

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