Sunderland’s recruitment strategy is to find and pursue young players who have a lot of potential; yet, success with such signings frequently requires patience and takes time. The Black Cats may change their strategy in an attempt to bolster their offensive line this month; one striker who has been strongly linked is 31-year-old Kieffer Moore of Bournemouth.
When asked directly whether Sunderland will deviate from their usual plan in their attempt to add a striker before the end of the window, Beale would not be drawn, but he did state that his team needs someone who will enter the game and have a significant impact on the first team, not someone who he described as a “filler” for the squad.
“It’s just the perfect player who fits,” Beale remarked. “When you sit down and talk to a player, are they coming for the correct reasons? Does he appear driven? Will he enter and strengthen our starting lineup?
“I don’t believe fillers are necessary. Nobody has to enter the game to pad the bench for us. Our young group is in good health and fitness. We require assistance from those who will enter the room.”
Beale added: “In terms of the model a lot is spoken about that. We’re trying to bring the right players in, players who are on the up rather than on the decline.
“We have recruited young players but in Bradley Dack and Luke O’Nien and Alex Pritchard we have players in their late 20s as well. We’re looking for players who can come in with the enthusiasm to move forward. We want players coming here who are on a mission to improve themselves.
“It’s about finding the right players. If we feel that we can in this window then everybody in the club from Kyril through to Kristjaan and myself is looking to do that.”
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