It was the underlying theme of last season and will no doubt be the main talking point this summer. Will Sunderland sign a proven goalscorer?
The lack of goals from strikers was a major issue for the Black Cats last term, finishing in 16th place, just six points above the drop. Between Mason Burstow, Eliezer Mayenda, Nazariy Rusyn and Luis Semedo - the four frontmen who came through the Stadium of Light doors last summer - in 2,724 minutes of Championship football, just three goals were scored between them.
The club's top scorer in 2022/23, Amad Diallo, returned to his parent club Manchester United at the end of his loan, Jack Clarke has put the cape on his back this season scoring 15 in 33, but hasn’t been supported by the club's out-and-out strikers.
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Sunderland scored fewer goals than all 15 of the teams that finished above them in the table this season with a total of 52. The lowest amount scored by a team that made the play-offs this year was 70 scored by West Brom - leaving the Black Cats with a 20 goal swing to overhaul this summer.
Something needs to change. More goals, more frequently, but the club's recent link with West Ham's youngster Divin Mubama implies the club will stick with their philosophy of bringing in younger talent to develop rather than signing a more experienced striker.
"The recruitment, in terms of how we recruit, isn’t going to change. The club want players with upside. They want players who have a value but there’s a gap between the value and their ceiling," said Mike Dodds towards the end of the recent campaign.
While not quite a complete unknown, the Wearsider’s newest target is about as green as they come.
Mubama has just 80 minutes of Premier League football under his belt this season, 87 minutes in the FA Cup and 88 minutes in the Europa League this season across four games, starting once.
The majority of the his minutes this season have come in the Premier League 2 for West Ham’s Under-21s side that finished second in the division, recently beaten by Sunderland U21s in the play-offs at Eppleton.
He has played 419 minutes, starting five games and scoring twice for the Hammers' youngsters.
While Mubama may have pedigree at youth level, helping the Hammers win the FA Youth Cup last season, a Europa Conference winner and taking the personal gong for Hammers Young Player of The Year in 2022-23, he's untested at Championship level.
He may have a handful of appearances in the Premier League, but isn't a regular starter and still has room to develop.
A sentiment shared by Hammers' boss David Moyes. When asked about Mubama by the BBC in late 2023, saying: "We want to play him but I would say how many 19-year-old centre-forwards are there in the Premier League?
"It is getting harder, because it is such a difficult role, and the level of competition is really high at nearly every club. His mentality and attitude are as good as any top player.
"He is so determined and works incredibly hard for the team. We need him to develop his actions and technical ability but he is only 19."
Mubama could leave West Ham this summer when his contract expires, having failed to agree terms on a new deal that would keep him in claret and blue next season. Moyes' side have held regular talks with the England youth international, but he's rebuffed them so far.
The London-based outfit are still in talks around a new deal as they, and fans, rate him highly.
He scored his first senior goal for the Hammers on route to the Conference League final in March 2023. A deft striker's finish in their 4-0 win over AEK Larnaca after coming off the bench as a substitute.
A first senior goal for Divin Mubama 🥰@WestHam || #UECL pic.twitter.com/0fkE0AQA1X
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) March 22, 2023
As we see on the clip above, the 19-year-old uses his physical strength to get in between the Larnaca goalkeeper and defender. While the first phase of play bypasses him, he then reacts quickly to get in front of the defender and turn the ball into the back of the net. An instinctive finish from the forward.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, he said: “I am over the moon!” he said to BT Sport. “It is something that I have been waiting for, for a very long time.
"The form that I'm in with the 18s and the 21s - I'm glad to continue the goalscoring streak. I am buzzing!”
Following the game, Hammers forward Jarrod Bowen was full of praise for the youngster: “When he trains with us you see how sharp [Divin] is. And even little things like pressing the goalkeeper…that’s what the fans want and what we demand from our players.
“And he’s been a credit to himself, and I am buzzing for him to get the goal. He deserves it."
While the Hammers are keen to keep their promising talent, Mubama is keen to get first-team football under his belt, which Sunderland are keen to offer.
The Black Cats have a proven track record when it comes to signing players from the Hammers' academy. Aji Alese and Pierre Ekwah have both impressed in parts during their time on Wearside and Mubama has all the qualities to follow suit.
“What Divin will give you is real hard work, energy, he likes to hold the ball up, he’s a good finisher, makes clever runs," Kevin Nolan, first-team coach at West Ham, told the Evening Standard when asked about Mubama's pedigree.
“He brings that effervescence, that energy and on Saturday we saw that when he came on.”
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While Sunderland's recruitment model has come under fire last season, Mubama could prove a shrewd addition, if they bring in an experienced forward alongside him. He's someone that's been on the recruitment radar for quite some time, but it's worth noting Sunderland would have to stump up some compensation if the Hammers offer the 19-year-old fresh terms and he turns them down.
There's very little statistical data to compare Mubama to given the majority of his minutes this season have come at youth level. However, the Black Cats' best signings in recent seasons have come in from Premier League academies; Jack Clarke, Dan Ballard and Ekwah just some examples of the smart business on Wearside.
Mubama has the potential to be named alongside those players should he sign, but the Black Cats will need to bring in further experience if they want to avoid a repeat of this season's struggles in front of goal. That being said, 30 goals in 40 appearances at youth level in 22/23 is nothing to be sniffed at.
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