"?Sunderland are said to have submitted an £11m bid for West Ham striker Diafra Sakho as they look to avoid yet another relegation battle next season.
If the Black Cats were to prise Sakho away from the Olympic Stadium, the 26-year-old would be reunited with Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce, with the West Ham manager the man who brought him to Upton Park from French side Metz for £3.5m in 2014.
BREAKING: Sky Sources: Sunderland make £11m offer for West Ham striker Diafra Sakho #SSNHQ
"?"?Allardyce has been linked with a move for his former signing for a number of weeks now, with Sky Sports News reporting on Friday that the relegation battlers have made a sizeable £11m move for the forward, who scored five Premier League goals last season.
The Senegalese international may have fallen out of favour under Slaven Bilic, but he made an instant impact when he arrived at the club - netting 12 goals in 26 games in his first season. With Allardyce looking to bolster Sunderland's forward options after relying too heavily on the exploits of Jermain Defoe last season, Sakho looks to be at the top of his target list once again.
PAPER TALK: Sunderland want to prize Diafra Sakho away from West Ham https://t.co/PAV6ylEraD pic.twitter.com/kwv5uonSsC
Sunderland could still face competition, with West Brom said to still be keen in the player after declaring their interest during the January transfer window. The Baggies are on the look out for replacements for Saido Berahino, who looks set to leave this summer, but Allardyce is said to be confident he can bring Sakho to the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats narrowly avoided relegation last season after yet another late rally, leapfrogging rivals Newcastle and Norwich to reach Premier League safety yet again.
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