KRISTJAAN Speakman insists Sunderland will do all possible to strengthen their squad in the final days of the transfer window, but has stressed the importance of sticking to the plan and only signing the "right type of player".

Sunderland are set to be boosted by the arrival of Leo Hjelde, who will become the club's first arrival of the winter window when he completes his move from Leeds United. That deal could be done today.

But the Black Cats remain hopeful of further adding to their squad in the final three days of the window, with a striker the obvious priority and Speakman also admitting that a midfielder is on the club's wishlist.

Sunderland will also ensure they're ready to react to any exits late in the window, with Alex Pritchard's future still unclear. With Jewison Bennette set to join Aris Thessaloniki on loan until the end of the season, Sunderland could potentially be left short in attacking midfield if Pritchard gets his wish and leaves the club in the coming days.

Bolstering up-front is, understandably, the priority for Sunderland between now and 11pm on Thursday and reports yesterday claimed it's now a three-way race between Sunderland, Ipswich and Cardiff for Bournemouth's Kieffer Moore.

Speakman insists the Black Cats are doing everything in their power to further strengthen their ranks, but won't panic and sign players who don't fit the bill.

"The football club has invested in the playing squad every single window. I'm not really sure how many clubs have been as consistent as we have over the last four or five transfer windows, you could probably do the research on that," said the sporting director.

"We're always in a position where we can take an opportunity, if that makes sense. Just because we have the opportunity, it doesn't mean you just go and sign anyone from anywhere who isn't going to make an impact - whether that be in the short, medium or long term.

"If we haven't signed anyone then it's not because we don't have the resource, it's about our preference and finding the right type of player for what we want to do."

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While the need for a striker is obvious - despite Mason Burstow breaking his duck in Saturday's win over Stoke - midfield is also an area Speakman admits Sunderland would like to strengthen.

He said: "I think we have got some really good midfield players and depending on who we're facing on a Saturday and how we might look to tweak and amend things, you're looking for certain preferences within someone's skill-set.

"Would we like to add another player in the middle of the pitch? Yeah, I think we would like to have a little bit more difference [in our options] to create a bit more balance.

"Sometimes those players are here and are injured, sometimes it is about players who you are trying to sign. It's about signing the right player, what you can't do is get on the path of signing the wrong player and adding them to your group, that doesn't provide a solution it just creates problems somewhere down the track.

"It just means you have players who you don't think can be part of the team [in the long run] and who the coach isn't going to want to pick in the team."