MICHAEL Beale says Sunderland need to sign a striker who can come in and make an immediate impact - but he knows that won't be easy this month, with plenty of the Black Cats' Championship rivals in the same position.
Sunderland's transfer model is to identify and target young players with big potential, but often with that type of signing patience is required and success doesn't come overnight. The Black Cats may well alter their approach in their bid to strengthen their forward line this month - with Bournemouth's Kieffer Moore, who is 31, one striker who has been heavily linked.
Beale wouldn't be drawn when asked specifically whether Sunderland will stray from their usual model in their efforts to add a striker before the end of the window, but he did say that what his side needs is someone who is going to come in and have a major first team impact, not what he described as a squad "filler".
Beale said: "I think it's just the right player that fits and when you sit and speak to a player, is he coming for the right reasons? Does he look motivated? Is he going to come in and make our starting team stronger?
"I don't think we need any fillers. We don't need anyone to come in and pad the bench. We have a fit and healthy young group. We need people to come in who are going to help us."
Beale added: "In terms of the model a lot is spoken about that. We're trying to bring the right players in, players who are on the up rather than on the decline.
"We have recruited young players but in Bradley Dack and Luke O'Nien and Alex Pritchard we have players in their late 20s as well. We're looking for players who can come in with the enthusiasm to move forward. We want players coming here who are on a mission to improve themselves.
"It's about finding the right players. If we feel that we can in this window then everybody in the club from Kyril through to Kristjaan and myself is looking to do that."
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What makes Sunderland's January challenge particularly difficult is the fact they're by no means alone in looking to bring in a ready-made striker who can hit the ground running.
Beale said: "We're trying to strengthen an area that maybe eight to 10 other teams are this month, so it's not going to be easy but we're going to do our best to add to the group, not just in that position."
Nazariy Rusyn is likely to keep his place in the starting XI for Saturday's game at Ipswich, while in-form Alex Pritchard will almost certainly again be in from the off.
Pritchard would have been allowed to leave Sunderland in the summer had the club received any offers but he's underlined his importance in recent weeks. His future, however, remains unclear, with the 30-year-old's contract due to expire at the end of the campaign.
Beale said: "I think at this moment in time, he's in the starting XI, he's playing well and he's fit and healthy. I don't know the ins and outs of that [what's happened before], and it's not one that the club has brought to me. It's onwards and upwards as far as I'm concerned.
"All the decisions are club decisions but at this moment in time, he's in the team and playing well. I'm happy with him and he's happy with me. We're in January and there's 20 games to play. May is a long time away and anything can happen, but at this moment in time the club have asked me to get my eyes on the players and give feedback on what I think.
"I'm still going through that process but at this moment in time, everyone can see how well Alex Pritchard is playing and the fans really appreciate him as well."
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