If we get Euro footy (unlikely this season unless we win the Cup - fingers crossed!) we'll be more attractive to decent European strikers. Llorente is a bit too much of a stretch at the minute though.
To be fair couldn't see you getting Llorente or some of the other names mentioned, HOWEVER I never thought Sunderland would get players like Gyan, Sessegnon and Bent. On top of this I never thought Newcastle would have got players like Ben Arfa, Coloccini and Santon.
There are several really top end strikers who will be available due to their respective teams struggles as well.
Villareal are in deep ****, Nilmar & Rossi are cracking strikers, the latter though is way overvalued.
In France, Lyon & Marseille could, likely will, miss CL, meaning Remy, Gignac, Briand & Gomis may need to be moved on to cut costs.
Germany, and Hamburg are in the ****, they have Guerrero & Petric who would certainly be available.
As mentioned though, MON may well favour British based players, so Agbonlahor and Defoe are bound to be linked.
What about Luis Fabiano, he's back at Sao Paulo but not playing, still only 30, incredible goals record through his career.
Massively ambitious, and he hardly needs the money (he probably gets more in Brazil in the current climate), but it'd be a wow signing, big time.
This will be the key as usual to the higher class talent who becomes available, how the European spots are allocated in the European leagues. The ones who miss out will go down the slashing squad route.
Defoe is likely to be on the move and I think the rumour always being he won't want to move this far north doesn't stand true. I think Defoe is the type who wants to play, and will anywhere if the money is right, he'll get a game and the team has a chance of qualifying for Europe. Sunderland should be able to tick two of those boxes and to be fair the third changes every season.
Agbonlahor is a lot tougher. Supposedly many have tried and failed already, particularly when not getting a game under Houllier. I believe he is Aston Villa through and through and while still first pick there, he is unlikely to move unless its a Man U type club. Nice to know some old school players still exist I suppose.
I think with Connor, it's just first touch and confidence, and he'll start to develop.
He really needs work on collectiong the ball, and getting it from under his feet, once he's moving, he's fine.
He'll get there, 100%
I wanted him at ours. Big lads like him always take time to come to hand to use a horse racing analogy. Look at Crouchy. Most of his earlier clubs were ready to discard him. Niall Quinn although talented as a young lad, got much better with age. They have to learn how to use their physique properly.
There's a few players at Marseille likely to come on the market, they are going to be hit hard by no European football next season.
Remy is impossible, but there are players like Valbuena & Gignac who could be smashing signings, Marseille to Sunderland though, it doesn't even sound appealing to me, and i'm a Mackem!
It's difficult, there aren't many around that are likely to move and be achievable for us, you look to leagues like Holland & Portugal, that are usually feeders for the big leagues, and there's very little jumping out.