2 Premier League targets that should be on Sunderland's radar this week | OneFootball

With around a week to go until the transfer window closes, Ross Stewart and Jay Stansfield should be on Sunderland's radar.

With around a week to go until the transfer window closes, several moves are gathering pace on Wearside in what is set to be a frantic week of arrivals and departures for Sunderland.

The departure of Jack Clarke has been the leading story in recent days, with the winger leaving for Premier League outfit, Ipswich Town. The deal is reported to be £15m plus £5m in add-ons, as per The Athletic, so the club should have funds to spend, but will they splash the clash before the window shuts?

As well as outgoings, the Black Cats are looking to bring in at least one more player, with a striker the key target for the Wearsiders. Wilson Isidor signed on loan from Zenit St Petersburg; the 23-year-old can play on the wing or up front, while the club are in talks with RB Salzburg's Roko Simic, as per the Daily Mail.

If the club can get a deal for Simic over the line, then it is unlikely they will move for more centre-forwards, but if the deal falls through, then they should look to recruit Ross Stewart or Jay Stansfield.

While the inclusion of Stewart will divide fans, there is some sense in bringing the Scot back to Wearside.

Ross Stewart would guarantee Championship goals

In a nutshell, Sunderland have not replaced Stewart. Since the 28-year-old departed for Southampton, the Black Cats have been unable to find a suitable striker to fill the void. Last season, the trio of Mason Burstow, Nazariy Rusyn and Luis 'Hemir' Semedo managed a mere three goals between them. The season before, Stewart bagged ten goals in 13 appearances.

Given that the Saints have brought in several additions to the striking department, Stewart is surely surplus to requirements at St Mary's. Since his £10m move from Wearside, the striker has only featured four times due to injuries.

While getting back with your ex is never advised, in football it is a different story. Sunderland have something to offer Stewart and vice versa. The forward needs game time, and he will not get it in the Premier League. The 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order and is behind the likes of Adam Armstrong, Cameron Archer, and, potentially even, Paul Onauchu.

Would Stewart score goals in the Championship? Yes. Do Sunderland need a goal-scoring striker? Yes. These two simple answers are enough for the Black Cats to rekindle a relationship with the man who left them 12 months ago.

The Wearsiders are desperate for a goalscorer at this level and should put pride aside to re-sign Stewart. Would the signing divide fans? Almost certainly. When the Scot left for Southampton, fans were rightly frustrated, but Stewart did achieve promotion with Southampton, and if it were not for injuries, then he would have made more of an impact.

As fans are finding out with Clarke's departure, losing your best player is a bitter pill to swallow, but you get over it and move on. If Clarke were available in a year's time, they would bite your hand off for a return. While the return of Stewart is unlikely, it is surely one that should be considered.

Jay Stansfield would be a great late addition

If Sunderland do not consider Stewart, then a move for Stansfield should be on the agenda.

Given the forward's record on loan at Birmingham City last season, it is surprising that the Black Cats have not been in the conversation for the Fulham man.

The 21-year-old scored an encouraging 12 goals in 43 appearances for the Blues last season - four times as many goals as Sunderland's front line mustered between them.

The forward has represented England at youth level and would surely be available on loan, given the competition for places at Craven Cottage.

A loan move would represent a low-risk piece of business for the Sunderland hierarchy and would presumably occur alongside the signing of an experienced striker - one Stansfield could learn from.

Season by season, Stansfield has been improving and his goal tally has been steadily increasing. Sunderland are a young side and the 21-year-old would fit in seamlessly. Furthermore, the forward would benefit from decent service, given Sunderland's attacking prowess.

They will face competition with the likes of Birmingham and Blackburn Rovers linked.