Sunderland Receive Positive Boost In 24-Year-Old Striker’s Signing: Would He Imrpove The Attack? | OneFootball

Sunderland pulled off one of their best results of the Premier League season on 12 April 2026, winning against Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at the Stadium of Light. The win keeps the hosts, who have the sixth-best home record in the league, just one point behind Brentford. The Black Cats moved past Newcastle and are now sitting comfortably in mid-table; one more good result could actually put them in the mix for European qualification for the first time since 1973.

Under Regis Le Bris, Sunderland have blown past every pre-season expectation, making the Stadium of Light a tough place for anyone to visit. The club are clearly on the up, and their summer transfer plans will likely show just how much they want to build on this top-flight return.

Santiago Gimenez’s AC Milan nightmare opens a door

With that momentum building, an interesting story is developing out of Italy. According to Il Giorno, Santiago Gimenez’s future at AC Milan is looking shaky, and Sunderland might have a chance to go back for a player they almost signed in January. The Mexican striker moved to Milan for about €35 million in January 2025 and did well enough in his first few months to look worth the price.

This season, though, has been a total disaster. Gimenez hasn’t managed a single goal or assist in 667 minutes of Serie A action, averaging a poor FotMob rating of 6.53 and picking up two yellow cards. SportWitness previously mentioned that Sunderland made a move for the 24-year-old in January, with Brentford also interested before an injury messed things up.

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 23: Santiago Gimenez of AC Milan celebrates after scoring to give the side a 1-0 lead during the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Round of 16 match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Reports at the time suggested there was a real belief that Gimenez would have moved to Wearside if he hadn’t been injured. Milan’s attack has completely stalled, scoring only five goals in 2026, and the club have dropped out of the title race. With rumours linking Robert Lewandowski to the club this summer, Gimenez, along with Christopher Nkunku and Niclas Fullkrug, looks set to leave the club.

Would Gimenez actually improve Sunderland’s attack?

I feel that it’s a bit of a toss-up. Sunderland definitely need a striker who can produce at this level, and you can’t ignore the goalscoring record Gimenez had at Feyenoord before his Milan move. That kind of history counts for something. Still, his current slump makes you wonder if he’s just lost his confidence or if he simply doesn’t fit the system.

Sunderland play a direct, high-energy style that could either kickstart Gimenez’s career again or highlight the same struggles he’s had in Italy. With his price tag likely to drop after such a bad year, the gamble starts to look a lot more tempting. However, Le Bris is going to want a sure thing rather than a project, and that choice will change everything.