Stewart may eventually be replaced by a 17-goal speedster if Sunderland signs him.
This coming Saturday, Michael Beale’s first job as Sunderland’s new head coach will be to lead his team to victory versus Coventry City. This is his immediate response to Sunderland’s narrow 1-0 loss at Bristol City, their previous away setback.
The 43-year-old’s appointment to the Black Cats’ head coach has caused controversy among the jaded supporters of the Stadium of Light. Tony Mowbray’s replacement was an underwhelming one, as Beale’s reputation was damaged in his previous role at Rangers, where he was fired following a 3-1 loss to Aberdeen.
But, if Beale signs this rumored target in January—who might be the strong striker Sunderland has been waiting for since Ross Stewart left in the summer—he could win over supporters.
Sunderland transfer latest – striker hunt for Beale
Sunderland are reportedly interested in bringing Japanese sensation Mao Hosoya to England, according to an exclusive from Sunderland Nation.
The J1 League striker has come onto the radar of the Black Cats after a breakthrough season playing for Kashiwa Reysol, leading to the 21-year-old even being called up to the Japan senior side.
The Tyne and Wear-based team is hoping that hiring players from a different level would be as profitable as it was for the Championship club when they took a chance on signing Ross Stewart from Ross County. Stewart is a Scottish striker who adapted to the second division quickly.
The stats that show why Mao Hosoya would be a good fit for Sunderland
Given that the Black Cats were unable to replace their talisman when he signed a £10 million contract to join divisional rival Southampton, it is safe to assume that Sunderland is in desperate need of a Stewart replacement.
Since Luis Semedo, Mason Burstow, Elezier Mayenda, and Nazariy Rusyn are all lackluster in front of goal for the team vying for promotion, none of the strikers still at the Stadium of Light have scored a goal this season.
Only two of Sunderland’s strikers, Rusyn and Burstow, have contributed a goal to the team’s total; they each received an assist. Hosoya, on the other hand, has excelled in his home country of Japan this campaign.
The 5 foot 10 forward helped himself to 17 goals in 2023 alone.
On the other hand, Stewart scored just six goals in his final season with Ross County in Scotland.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described Hosoya’s talents as being centered on his “pace” and “acceleration.” The young striker is a Japanese forward skilled at outpacing opponents with his sheer speed before capping an opening.
