SUNDERLAND'S priority between now and the end of the summer transfer window is no secret - they desperately want another striker.

The Black Cats have been working around the clock for weeks to bolster their forward line, with young summer capture Hemir the only fit recognised frontman on the books as things stand.

That will change between now and next Friday's deadline, with Tony Mowbray revealing at the weekend that a deal was close.

But the arrival of a frontman might not mark the end of Sunderland's summer business. Exits are anticipated in the final stages of the window, with Mowbray hoping that players who leave will be replaced.

Here's how Sunderland's situation stands with 10 days to go until the deadline.

WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THE STRIKER FRONT?

It's been a waiting game since last week when Mowbray revealed a deal was imminent. On Thursday, Mowbray said he expected a deal to be done "tomorrow" and the head coach said the game again on Saturday after the win over Rotherham.

As things stand, there still hasn't been confirmation, but Sunderland are clearly close to making a signing that's crucial as they look to build on their first win of the campaign against the Millers.

What Mowbray wouldn't reveal is the identity of the striker who was close to signing. He did confirm the Black Cats were interested in Fulham's Jay Stansfield  - who is set to leave Craven Cottage on loan - but said "there are two or three other players we've had conversations about."

As many as five Championship clubs - including Millwall and QPR - are interested in Stansfield, who spent last season on loan at Exeter.

Fulham boss Marco Silva said last week: “It is a good sign that all these clubs — and they are good Championship clubs — want Jay."

“He is a fantastic boy and we all love him at this football club. He wants to play football every single weekend. We are going to make a decision for him, but it depends on our market as well and our squad.

“We don’t want to put him at just any club. He needs to go to a club that plays a certain way.”

Another striker to have been strongly linked is Nazariy Rusyn, with Sunderland said to have tabled offers for the 24-year-old Ukrainian, but fresh reports this week claim the Black Cats face competition from an unnamed Belgian top flight club.

Everton's Tom Cannon is another player linked with Sunderland this summer, but there's plenty of Championship interest - with Leeds and Preston among those keen.

Everton boss Sean Dyche said last week: “He’s only just got fit. He played 45 minutes the other day, so we’ll keep an eye on him and make sure he’s well. We’re keeping our minds open at this stage.

“We haven’t got a big squad as everyone knows, we haven’t got massive number of strikers, that’s quite obvious. He’s in the building for now and will view it accordingly as the window comes towards the end.”

DO SUNDERLAND WANT TO STRENGTHEN IN OTHER AREAS?

Yes, Mowbray also wants a central midfielder.

With captain Corry Evans not expected to be back until the end of the year, the head coach is fearful of being left short in the middle of the park.

He said: “I think the reality is that we have to get the front end of the pitch sorted out first. But we are mindful that we are a bit light in that central-midfield area. If Dan or Pierre was a to pick up an injury, it suddenly starts to look really thin in that area of the pitch.

“We could drop Jobe in there, but he is a 17-year-old boy. That seems daft because at some stage, if you make a substitution, you’ll have a 16-year-old (Rigg) and a 17-year-old playing centre-mid in the Championship, which is not ideal.

“It’s an area that potentially we might look for a more experienced footballer to help the area out."

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WHAT ABOUT EXITS?

Mowbray last week confirmed he expects Alex Pritchard to leave.

No club has yet been linked with the 30-year-old, but with less than a year left on his current deal and with the midfielder not fitting the age profile that Sunderland bosses are looking to develop, the head coach won't stand in Pritchard's way if an offer is tabled between now and next Friday.

Mowbray said: “Alex’s situation is a little bit more complicated than I can discuss openly. He’s a good football player, but there is a fair percentage (likelihood) that he will leave the football club in the next few weeks. If he doesn’t, then we can have more discussions after the window shuts.”

Another player in the final year of his deal on Wearside who could well move on is Danny Batth, who is wanted by Blackburn. Lynden Gooch has also been linked with a move away.

Mowbray said: "There is an uncertainty about one or two players at the club still. Hopefully if one or two players move, one or two come in."

Jack Clarke was the subject of bids from Burnley earlier this summer but the offers were rejected. Patrick Roberts, meanwhile, was linked with a return to Celtic this week. Sunderland want to keep both Clarke and Roberts - hugely important players - as they look to build on last season's success.

AND WHAT'S THE LATEST ON ROSS STEWART?

It's very much as you were. The striker, who is not expected to return from his serious Achilles injury until the end of next month, is out of contract at the end of this season and despite a number of discussions taking place, an agreement on a new deal hasn't been reached.

That has led to inevitable speculation linking him with a move in the current window, with Southampton, Stoke and Rangers having all been linked recently.

His short and long-term future is unclear, but Mowbray insists the club remains calm.

He said earlier this month: “I genuinely don’t think the club are over-stressing on it. What did he cost? It certainly wasn’t millions and millions.

“I don’t think the club are over-stressing. They’re making him offers that they think are special in the context of where our football club is at the moment. We’re not just trying to give him a good contract – we’re trying to make it an incredibly good contract for him in terms of where he is, and our club is, at the moment."