But which players will Phil Parkinson be looking at, and who could be available to the Black Cats during the winter transfer window? We’ve taken a look at some of the frontmen who could be interesting Sunderland ahead of the window – scroll down and click through the pages to see who Parkinson could be targeting in January:
9. Christian Doidge
Tall, powerful and prolific - what more could Sunderland need? Photo: Mark Runnacles
10. Sam Cosgrove
The top scorer outside of the Old Firm, Cosgrove is believed to be interesting a host of teams ahead of January. Could Sunderland be one of them? Photo: Ian MacNicol
11. Armand Gnanduillet
Sunderland fans have often suggested that the Blackpool frontman would be the ideal fit for their side and, given his record this season, it's hard to argue with that case. Photo: Jack Thomas
12. George Hirst
Hirst impressed against the Black Cats for Leicester City U21s and could well have caught Parkinson's eye. His lack of experience in League One may prove a concern, though. Photo: Octavio Passos