Are Sunderland set to raid Sweden again for next Joel Asoro?

Falkenberg youngster Jesper Karlsson has attracted the attention of Black Cats scouts as they look to keep tabs on some of the brightest young talent in Scandanavia.

Sunderland signed Swdish duo Joel Asoro and Oscar Krusnell last summer, with Asoro in particular rising quickly to prominence, having featured for the first team already this season despite being just 17.

Karlsson is the latest teenager to catch the eye. The 18-year-old forward is being tracked by a number of clubs in Sweden, including Elfsborg, while Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion have also been linked with a move for him.

Reports in Sweden claimed that Sunderland had scouted Karlsson, available for around £500,00, but that the hotshot had already agreed to sign for Elfsborg.

However, Falkenberg chairman Lars-Eric Nilsson said the club hadn’t agreed any deal.

“Jesper has decided for Elfsborg,” he said. “This is how we perceive it, but we did not agree with Elfsborg. We have not agreed with Elfsborg yet. We’ve only had our first meeting so far. We will meet again this week.”