Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is making a striker a priority signing for the summer. Bruce's squad has been decimated by injuries in recent weeks, particularly to his strikers, which compounded the decision to sell Darren Bent to Aston Villa in January.
Bruce feels another significant recruitment drive is not necessary but has made signing a striker his top priority.
Although Bruce admits he is unlikely to secure a return for Danny Welbeck, Ahmed Elmohamady is set to make a permanent move to the Stadium of Light.
"I don't think it's another rebuilding [job]," said the Black Cats boss.
"But I don't think you have to work out that we have got five loan players in a squad of 23 and we might keep one or two, Elmohamady being one - that's already done.
"I have said on record many times that I don't think we have got any chance of getting Welbeck for next year - I think he will go back to Manchester United - so you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that we have got Asamoah Gyan and Fraizer Campbell, who is out for another year or so. You know where we will be shopping.
"I wanted to have only a squad of 24, 25, I think that is ample. I don't think I would change that.
"Also, I have gone down the route of wanting to buy young, and I think that is the way forward for the club. Certainly, we left ourselves a bit short in the striking department, but we were unfortunate."
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