According to Alan Nixon of The Sun, Sunderland are ‘getting serious’ over a move for Burton Albion striker Liam Boyce.
Whether a deal is concluded remains to be seen, but he’s someone that could well be perfect for Phil Parkinson.
What’s the word?
Sunderland have been lacking goals from a central area this season with Chris Maguire leading the way with seven strikes.
A total of 20 goals have been scored from 17 games under Parkinson and not until recently has the net started to bulge more regularly, with three coming against Lincoln last weekend.
With Will Grigg failing to score more than once all season, it’s clear a striker is needed.
Already this window the Black Cats have been linked with Sam Winnall but now the latest link doing the rounds, according to Nixon, is that of League 1 striker Boyce.
Perfect fit
Signing a player from a side 14th in the third tier of English football might not be too appealing but there is a lot of sense to this potential deal.
For a start, it enhances the chances of the Mackems scoring goals from a central area. Boyce has netted seven times this term and saved one of his best performances for the Stadium of Light.
Back in November, he played a vital role by scoring and producing two key passes.
But it’s his physical presence that makes him an ideal swoop for a Sunderland side in desperate need of improving their record in front of goal.
On occasion, Sunderland have favoured direct football, most notably against Lincoln when Jon McClaughlin’s long ball forward was steered home by Lynden Gooch.
Throughout his managerial career, Parkinson has favoured a target man, whether it be James Hanson or Gary Madine who have won an average of 14.1 and 4.5 aerial duels per game this season.
In comparison, Boyce wins fewer per game but he is still strong in the air, winning 2.6 per outing in 2019/20. He won as many as seven in a clash against Southend in 2019.
In recent times, Parkinson has favoured Charlie Wyke at the Stadium of Light. He’s won a total of five aerial battles on average but simply doesn’t offer the goal threat that someone like Boyce produces.
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Wyke has racked up a tally of just two this term, regularly failing to find the back of the net.
Boyce, however, who stands at 6-foot tall, would not only still be able to use his body to bring others into play, but he’d also stand a better chance of finding the back of the net.
He is proven in League One and that could be exactly what Sunderland need.
In other Sunderland news, they’ve been linked with a forward from the Championship…